Coroner Refrains From Comment

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 74, 28 March 1936, Page 5

Coroner Refrains From Comment

lans Death in - Shop Following Collision

ALLEGED HE WAS PUSHED OFF BICYCLE Per Press Association, CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. “There is no doubt in the mind of the Court that this unfortunate incident was precipitated by uufortunato happenings between Main and Frame, but beyond that I do not propose to make any comment, as it might or might not prejudice the position of ono of tho witnesses.” This statement was made by the Coroner, Mr E. C. Lcvvcy, S.M., at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Robert Main, aged 55, a baker, of Hereford street, who collapsed and died in a shop iu Cashel street ou the evening of January 31. Tho formal verdict was that Main died from myocarditis, brought on by diseased blood vessels.

Dr. Pearson, in evidence, said that undue excitement would be an accelerating factor in the cause of death.

Dr. William Bates said Main’s heart was in a bad condition, and the excitement caused by a collision would hasten death.

Other witnesses gave evidence as to incidents of the evening. Thero was a collision between Maiu and Albert Hector Frame, a labourer, of Hills road. Both were riding bicycles. After the collision, Main was,' according to witness, badly frightened. Ho said to one witness: ‘‘That drunken rotter pushed mo off my bicycle.” Maiu entered a fruit shop iu Cashel street and asked for help, saying he was being followed by a man who pushed him off his bicycle. Frame was then outside (be shop. Main left and went next door to the grocer’s shop of W. Walker, 350 Cashel street, repeating his statement that a man was chasing him. Main was excited and upset and asked that tho police be called. Before this could be done, he fell forward on the floor and-died;

Frame, in evidence, said he had had a considerable amount of liquor that evening. He was riding a bicycle, turning from Madras to Hereford street, when a man riding an unlighted bicycle collided with him. His knee was injured, his right elbow swelled and his lip was sut,. JPt:am.e.,,said ho-went to the shop which Main entered because he wished to discover his name. To the Magistrate he admitted having had a considerable amount of liquor, but would dispute that he was very drunk. He did not remember being told that Maiu was dead or being asked for his name.