FOUND DEAD ON WORKSHOP FLOOR

Northern Advocate, 1 April 1937, Page 4

FOUND DEAD ON WORKSHOP FLOOR

/ Popular Member Of Whangarei Dance Band

At about 4.20 yesterday afternoon, Mr Walter James Veitch Knox, aged about 34, was found dead on the floor of a portion of the building occupied by Mr Ken Sirl, engineer, Hebert Street.

At an inquest held this morning, a verdict was returned by the coroner, Mr G. H. Morrish, that'death was due to natural causes, in accordance with the medical evidence.

Hugh Kennedy Sirl, said that Knox did odd jobs for him and also kept the books. Deceased had not enjoyed good health and witness had seen him recovering from a fit of some description. Witness last ;saw Knox alive at about 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon.

Constable J. V. Bell said that he found deceased lying on the floor with his face to the ground, and bleeding profusely from the mouth.

*' No Signs of Struggle. ■ Robert Morrison, a blacksmith employed by Sirl, said that soon after 4 yesterday afternoon he received a call and found deceased on the floor. He was bleeding from the nose and mouth, but there were no signs of any struggle. Witness had recently found deceased in a similar condition, when he had bled from the mouth.

Dr. H. F. Buckley said that he had carried out a post-mortem examination this morning. The mouth and throat were full of blood and the lungs also contained inspired blood. ;ln his opinion death was due to asphyxia following , inspiration pf blood, which bleeding was caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the upper respiratory tract. Judging by deceased’s history Knox had probably had a fit and the hemmorhage was consequent on the fall or fit. His heart was sound.

Warren Stanley Lloyd Gribble gave evidence of finding the body, after being told by a lady that there, was a man lying on the floor. The coroner gave a verdict in accordance with the, medical evidence^ Bom in Scotland. Mr Knox was corn in Scotland, and was single. About four years ago he came to Whangarei under engagement to Ces. Wright’s Band as a saxophonist. He was an expert at playing this instrument, and had previously served with Walter Smith’s orchestra in Auckland. He was recognised as one of the best tenor saxophonists in New Zealand. He was at-one time a member of Fuller’s Vaudeville, playing the banjo and saxophone. For some time he was in charge of the H.B. store at Marton and was, later in business at New Plymouth. In his younger days he was a keen golfer, and was once amateur junior champion of Scotland. Mr Knox was of a very retiring disposition, but was extremely popular among his friends. He has one sister in New Zealand, Mrs O’Neil, of Wanganui, and a step brother in Christchurch.