INQUEST.

North Otago Times, 22 May 1909, Page 1

INQUEST.

An inquiry iti'tq the circumstances surrounding tht> death of Thomas Martin; tailor, who died at the Caludonian ground on Thursday last, was held at the Courthouse yesterday by Mr S.M., Coroner for the District. Sergeant Griffith conducted tho proceedings, and called Frederick W. Omjley, who ideiitilied tho body lying at the Globe Hotel as that| of Thomas Martin. Deceased was a journeyman tailor working ior Mr N. 31. Hood, and was about 25 or '26 I years of ago. Deceased was playing I football on the North lioad ground on Thursday ih tiie Oamaru .v. Athletic match. Ho was playing for the Oamaru Club, for which, witness was also playing. Deceased appeared io bo quite well when witness last saw him, but had been-complaining previous to the gamo about a knock ho had received about a fortnight tgo. Witness saw deceased get tho knock. He was charged into during the game, and fell heavily- on the back.of his head, and was unconscious for a time.) Deceased recovered consciousness after four or five minutes, bill was dazed and talked incoherently. Deceased played agtain the following Thursday,, and witness heard that he got another hurt on his head,

W. D. iluni's, printer, stated he was selector for the Kortii Otngo football Union, and was present at the liiulck on the Caledonian Grounds on Thursday. Deceased appeared to he all right when he came on to the ground. The match was drawing to a " close when deceased attempted to catch another player tunned Berniiiighani, bat missed the- latter. Daoasci fell, but got up, and went to his place in front of tho goal, lie left that position and came towards witne.-w. lie stopped.aud staggered, and Hi; Gerrio went to his assistance. On asking' deceased what was the matter, suggeseing cramp in the leg, deceased saiu "No, it's my head. I was hurt in a previous match." Witness asked, him if he had struck tho corner flag pole, and deceased said '.'No," He appeared to bo getting, weaker, and v/a-s assisted to tho pavilion. That was the lust witness saw oi him alive. 13r M'Adum stated that he was called by telephone to see deoeascd about 5.25 p.m. on Thursday at the Caledonian Grounds. He found deceased lying in-tlic pavilion, and he wis quite unconscious, sulieriiig from hemorrhage on tho brain, so far as iio could see. His pulse was good at first, but it gradually weakened, and he died about an hour later, There were no marks of external violence, on tho body, and no signs of fracture of the base of the brain. Witness heard that deceased fell on his 'head about a fortnight ago, and had also met with a similar accident.about a week ago. Most probably there was a previous rupture. Medically speaking the cause of death was compression of the brain. 'l.'hoS'.. Earis, grocers' assistant, stated that he was referee at tho footi ball match on Thursday week last, when deceased got a knock, 'Micro was no accident in Thursday's match ); he only slipped while trying to catch another player. In tlio match the previous Thursday ho got hurt in a scram. Ho lay a couple of minutes, and then got up. He said he \\tu all right. .Lawrence King, telegraph operator, stated that he saw the accident to deceased a fortnight ago. R was railway through the first spell, and ho appeared to. ho thrown backwards, evidently whiln attempting to stop ,\ rush. There >vas' nothing tend about the accident; he lay on the ground for a few minutes. On Thursday deceased never struck anything at all; he threw himself at a man, missed his man, and skidded along tho oround on his shoulder and head. The verdict given by, the Coronet was that death was occasioned by concussion of the brain and hemorrhage caused accidentally in a football match by misadventure. ■ '