A SAD CASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1704, 18 December 1919, Page 7

A SAD CASE.

FATALITY AT FEILDING

A sad case, whore both man and wife died, occurred at Gladstone street. Feildiug. Iho deceased persons were Mr and Mrs Lane. Lane, who was the manager of Plater and Go’s, aerated water factory, and his wife lived in a small cottage on the factory premises. The couple had no family. Mrs Lane succumbed on Tuesday afternoon, and Mr Lane died between five and flix o’clock on Wednesday morning. Both Mr and Mrs Lane were middle-aged persons, and bad but recently come to New Zealand. Mr Lane bad owned some property in Auckland. THE INQUEST. Mr E. Goodbebcrc, Coroner, opened an inquest on the Lancs yesterday afternoon.

Arthur B. Smith; cordial manufacturer, giving evidence, said Lane was acting as manager of his (witness’s) factory. _ Deceased had not been addicted to drink in bis employ, and lie had never seen either Lane or Mrs Lauo the worse for liquor. As manager and tiio export, Lane had access to everything in the factory. Rectified spirits of wine and oil of lemon were used. These contain about 8C per cent, of alcohol. He had heard Lane say to Dr Phillips that he had been drinking these spirits and had had nothing to cat for a week. Lane was then quite rational, but both Mr and Mrs Lane wi re in such a serious state that witness called in Dr Phillips. Ho believed both were about 46 years of age. Lane bad rot 1)0011 at work in the factory for about a week pievious to his death. Witness had looked him up and asked him what lie meant bv leaving him in the lurch at such a busy season, “i'll bo at work to morrow.” was’ Lane’s reply. It did not appear to witness ns if Lane was drinking. He just looked drowsy and heavy He said ho had eaten tinned salmon, and felt queer. “I felt disgusted at, Ids conduct, and came away. I did not see him again until yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon.” He did i.ot know of -any liquor being left at Lane’s house while in Ids (witness’s) employ. He hud no reason for thinking that anything seriously was wrong until ho saw-the c.cceased yesterday. It was decided to take (ho remainder oi the evidence next Tuesday morning.