HENRY LEWIS INQUEST.

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1910, Page 5

HENRY LEWIS INQUEST.

BURIAL WITHOUT POST MORTEM

ALLEGED MISUNDERSTANDING. DARGAVILLE, Dec. 19. At the inquest held concerning the death ot Arthur Henry Lewis, late •engineer of the Northern Wairoa Dairy Company's cream steamer Pioneer, the evidence went to show that deceased worked very long hours, usually from 5.30 a.m. to 5 or 6.30 p.m., and sometimes, when the engines were giving trouble he commenced at 3.30 a.m. Dr. Young gave evidence, and it was shown that deceased was buried without a post mortem examination having been made. Under cross-examination by Mr R. J. Crates, who represented the Norwich Union Accident Insurance Compony, witness said he had only made a superficial examination. There was a contused spot over the eye. There mteht have been fracture of the skull caused by the propeller, but he could not tell without a post mortem. The coroner explained that there must have been a misunderstanding. ~When he gave directions over the tele? phone that an examination must be made, he meant a post mortem. . Constable McDonald said that the coroner only ordered an examination of the body, and that was done. After considerable evidence had T>een given, the coroner (Mr Webb) returned a verdict that deceased met "his death by drowning, there being no evidence to show how he got into the ivater.