SUDDEN DEATH AT NEWTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6838, 17 October 1883, Page 5

SUDDEN DEATH AT NEWTON.

CORONER'S INQUEST. An inquisition into the cause of death of John Sandford, was held yesterday, at the King's Arms Hotel, Upper Pitt-street, before Dr. Philson (District Coroner), and a jury, of whom Mr. Joseph Warren was chosen foreman. The jury having seen the body of deceased, the evidence was taken. Mrs. Esther Sandford's evidenco was to the effect tint her husband went to bed on Sunday night, apparently in his usual health. She was in an adjoining room with hor sick daughter, and heard no noise during the night. Her husband called her at six o'clock in the morning, and she got up, lit the fire, and put on the kettle. She heard him get out of bed, aud come into the kitchen. Ho said, "Mother, I've put in 3uch a bad night." She asked, what could be the matter, and he said, "This pain has moved from horo (laying his hands on hit left coent) to here (laying his hand lower down)." He struck his hand on his heart again, and with a deep groan he 101 l on his left side ou the floor. She raised his head, and called her children, .1 the sick girl and the boy (14), and they came toher. She sent the boy for Dr. Stockwell, and called in a neighbour, Mrs. O'Neill. Dr. Stookwell, who made a i>od mortem examination of the body, deposed that the body was somewhat emaciated. There was a striking absence of fat in tho body. The abdominal organs were in good condition. There was Borne fluid in tho stomach, but no smell of alcohol or of narcotic poison. He found the right lung in a fair state of health, but somewhat congested. Tho left lung' was adherent throughout to the pleuro diaphram, and was hypathiscd to such an extent that it broke down readily on pressure, being very friable, and it contained no air. There wore no tubercules, were solid masses near the apex of tho loft lung. The heart was. healthy. He thought tho manner of death was syncope, causod by his weak state of health, probably by suddenly getting up. Tho 3tate of his lungs was sufficient to account for death'. The jury returned a verdict in acoordanco with the medical evidence,, death from natural causes.