SUDDEN DECEASE OF MR. J. M. ALEXANDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8883, 20 May 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUDDEN DECEASE OF MR. J. M. ALEXANDER.

At an early hour on Friday, April Mr. John M. Alexander, tho well-known solicitor of VVyndham-street, died suddenly at his residence, Mount Albert. He had been in indifferent health for two months, spending part of the time recruiting at Okoroire and part at Waiwera. On tho 21st April lie left his home in his usual health and spirits for his office, arranging to meet Mrs. Alexander and his eldest daughter in town, and spend the evening at the City Hall, where Mr. T. M. Jackson's concert was being held. After the concert Mr. and Mrs. Alexander returned home, reaching it about eleven o'clock. Mrs. Alexander went to bed. Air. Alexander had some gruel for supper, and sat a short time looking at a book, and then followed her upstairs. In conversation, lie said ho did not feel sleepy, and after some brief talk Mrs. Alexander fell asleep. About one o'clock on tho morning of April 22 Airs. Alexander was awakened by hearing a noise in the bedroom, and found her husband out of the bed. Sho then heard him fall on the lloor, and at once arose, being alarmed, and got him into bed. His condition appearing to be serious she aroused her son, John Alexander, a lad of 15, and the two female servants. On their entering bho room he appeared to be struggling for breath, and had one of his hands pressing his forehead. Some brandy was procured, of which he drank a small quantity, and then commenced to vomit. Further efforts were made bo relieve him, but in vain, and he died in about ten minutes. In the meantime a messenger had been sent for Dr. Rowley, of Mount Albert; but, although he arrived promptly, all that remained for him to do was to pronounce life extinct. Owing to there being some doubt as to tho cause of death Drs. Dawson and Rowley made a post mortem examination of the body on the 22nd April, and found that death was caused by serous effusion on the brain. They examined the stomach, and found that it contained only some gruel, and all the other organs were said to be in a healthy state. Mr. Alexander arrived in Auckland in 1854 ; and in 1874, having been brought up in the legal profession, became a partner of tho late Air. Andrew Bovcridge, and on his decease carried on tho business of the firm. Ho had the reputation of being a sound and capable lawyer, and enjoyed the confidence of all his clients. Deceased leavos a family of seven children. At the R.M. Court on the 22nd April very feeling reference was made to the death of Mr. J. M. Alexander. Before the commencement of the proceedings Mr. Thoo. Cooper, addressing the Court, said that he was very sorry to have to state that he had just received information of the death of Mr. J. M. Alexander. Mr. Cooper, however, was so deeply moved that he could get no further, and completely broke down,

Dr. Giles said that he was thankful to Mr. Cooper for having mentioned the sad occurrence, as it gave him an opportunity of expressing how much he was shocked and grieved at Mr. Alexander's death. As far as his knowledge was concerned, he could bear testimony to the strictly gentlemanly and conscientious manner in which the deceased gentleman had always conducted himself. He felb that his death would be a great loss to the Court and to the profession generally. At the Board of Education Mr. S. Luke (the chairman) also made reference to Mr. Alexander's death, as he had acted as solicitor to that Board, and moved a vote of condolence to be sent to Mrs. Alexander in her bereavement. The motion wa seconded by Mr. Udy, and carried unanimously.

coroner's inquest. Chief Detective Kirby and Sergeant Bernard went out to Mount Albert and made the necessary investigations, and Inspector Broham communicated the result of the inquiries to the Coroner (Dr. Philson), and as the outcome he decided to hold an inquest on the body of the deceased at ten a.m. on April 23, at his late residence, Mount Albert, to enquire into the circumstances surrounding his death. The following are the names of the six gentlemen who served on the jury : —Messrs. James Davis (foreman), Charles Cox, William Doonin, Joseph Cohonolly, Samuel Tilly, and Isaac Burchell. Flora Fraser, a domestic servant in the employ of the deceased, and Catherine Alexander, widow of the deceased, gave evidence to the effect as above stated. Dr. F. W. E. Dawson deposed that he had no reason to doubt that in all respects the cause of death was natural. Ho had nob i the slightest reason to believe that deceased committed suicide. Dr. Rowley also believed death to have been natural, resulting from disease of the liver and brain. Dr. Mackellar, in answer to questions from the jury, stated: There are some cases in which no signs of poison can be detected by tho naked eye, but only by means of a chemical analysis. 1 do not think there is anything extraordinary in tho action of Dr. Dawson in holding a post mortem without the consent of the coroner, as such is a somewhat common occurrence, giving satisfaction to friends, and to the medical man concerned. It should be remembered that Dr. Dawson had not the slightest suspicion that there were any suspicious circumstances connected with deceased's death, and knew nothing of any financial troubles. I do not think that part of tho contents of the stomach is missing, but perhaps soma had been spilt. Henry Thomson Gorrie deposed : lam a member of the firm of Alfred Buckland and Sons, auctioneers. I have known deceased for over thirty years. He has been acting as solicitor in an estate in which I am a trustee, and William Thompson is another. He received the whole of the moneys connected with the estate, handling in all a sum of about £4000. Part of the deposit money paid in connection with the sale of a farm at Te Awamutu (about £2300) was received by him during the latter part of last year. He was the family solicitor of the Thompsons. About three months' ago the estate referred to was to have been divided, but since then I have been unable to meet deceased at his office. He had made several appointments which he had failed to keep, presumably on account of his illness. I have even gone to his residence to see him ; my first visit being on the 11th April. I then saw deceased, and arranged business matters to a certain extent. He promised to send mo on the following morning a cheque for £2000 on the Bank of New Zealand ; but tho cheque was not received according to promise. I next saw Mr. Alexander at his residence on the 13th April, when I asked his reason for nob sending the cheque, as promised. He replied, "I am very glad you have come out, because I can explain to you hat I could not say to William " (meaning Mr. Thompson, the co-trustee). The explanation that he then gave me was that he liadnob got the money, having lentit; but refused to say to whom. He, however, stated that ho could get it in in a few days, and went on to say that he would be in town on Thursday, the 14th, and that he would then leave the cheque for £2000 at my otlice ; also, that he would pay the balance after the Easter holidays. On the Thursday I was not in town, but Mr. Buckland, jun., handed me a post-dated cheque on the Bank of New Zealand for £4000, bearing Mr. Alexander's signature. This cheque would not bo payable until the 25th April. I had another interview with Mr. Alexander on Thursday, the 21st of April, at his otlice, about noon. I wanted to see him, because I did not look on the cheque as a legal document, and desired to have either the cash or the securities. Mr. Thompson was present on this occasion. Deceased said, "It will be all right on Saturday morning" (meaning the 23rd April). I replied, " This will not do. The whole matter must bo settled on Friday tit noon, when I must have either tho cash or securities. " He consented to this. I did not stato what steps I would take if deceased failed to keep his promise. I had instructed my solicitor, Mr. W. F. Buckland, to look after the securities.

William Francis Buckland, solicitor, deposed : i have known deceased for about 30 years. On the afternoon of Thursday, the 21gt April, Air. Gorrie and Mr. Thompson camo to my office and consulted me with reference to the affairs of the estate referred to by the last witness. We ultimately decided upon Mr. Alexander's arrest. I came to the conclusion that deceased was going away in the mail steamer, and therefore consulted the inspector of police, with whom wo fully discussed the matter. The result was that Mr. Broham advised Mr. Alexander's immediate arrest, bub 1 wanted to have the arrest put oil" until noon on Friday. Mr. Broham promised to see that deceased did nob leave the city. On Friday morning I heard that deceased was dead. The above concluded the evidence, and the jury then retired. After a few minutes' consultation, they brought in a verdict, " That there was no evidence to show how the deceased came by his death." As several of the jury did nob feel satisfied with the results of the post mortem examinations, and as Dr. Mackellar suggested that ib would bo desirable that the contents of tho stomach should be subjected to a chemical analysis, Detective Kirby consulted tho coroner on the matter. Dr. Philson at first appeared to be of opinion that no good could result, bub subsequently gave his consent. Detective Kirby therefore had the necessary parts of tho stomach removed, and brought tho same into town.

The remains of tho late Mr. J. M. Alexander were interred on the 24th of April, in the cemetery connected with St. Luke's Church, Mount Albert. Tho funeral service commenced in the church at three o'clock, the building being crowded to the doors by tho numerous friends of the deceased, and residents of the district, the legal profession being very largely represented.

Mr. J. A. Pond, analyst, reported that in tho portions of the stomach submitted for his examination he could find no traces of poisonous substances likely to cause death.

On the night of Wednesday, May 11, Frederick Willis, died suddenly at the home of Mr. John Redin, bootmaker, Victoria-street, Auckland. The deceased had been farming at Turanga Creek, but had come to the city twelve months ago, with his wife and family, and since then had been hawking and selling greengroceries. Mr. Willis has been in bad health for the last five years since swallowing a bone while taking somo soup. The bone lodged in his throat, was never extracted, and gradually worked its way into the right lung, where it set up disease, from which he died. On May I*2, an .inquest was held by Dr. Philson and a jury at the Empire Hotel, and after lengthy evidence, which pointed out tho above circumstances, the bono being found when .a post mortem examination was made by Dr. Roberton, the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. The bone was produced at the inquest and weighed about an eighth of an ounce. A man named Thos. Rodda was brought up from Kuaotunu by the steamer lona, which arrived on April 24, and was taken to the Hospital suffering from a broken thigh. He was riding in a hurdle race at Kuaotunu on Easter Monday, when he was thrown, and his thigh broken. '

About one o'clock a.m. on May 4 a girl named Euphemia Gordon, aged 15, whose parents reside at Pokeno Valley, died ab the district Hospital under somewhab peculiar circumstances. It seems that the deceased was admitted to the Hospital on the 23rd of February last, suffering from a fractured thigh, and as the thigh had nob set perfectly it was broken and re-set. During the operation she received chloroform in the presence of Dr. Mackellar and everything went off well, and she showed no ill effects therefrom. Some time after, a second operation being necessary, she was again put under chloroform, and the girl died a few hours after. The Coroner held an inquest ab the Hospital at ten o'clock on the sth May, when evidence was given at some length. The medical evidence showed that death was caused by an embolism in one of the blood vessels near the heart, and Dr. Sommerville said, humanly speaking, the deceased might have been alive still had chloroform nob been administered to her during the operation on the thigh. The jury returned the following verdict : —" That the deceased died under the effects of the second operation, and that chloroform should not have been used."

A man named Thos. McGuire, of Epsom, was taken to the District Hospital on April 24 for treatment, he having been kicked by a horse in the face, and gob his jaw broken. An inquest was held ab the Asylum on Tuesday, April 26, concerning the death of a patient named Hugh Rogers, aged 50 years. A verdict of " Death from chronic disease of the brain and vomiting" was returned.

A sudden death occurred on the 29th April in Stewart-street, Mount Eden, when Mr. William Candy, mate of the Northern Chief, was found by his wife lying dead on the floor of their bedroom. An inquest was held on the 30th April, Dr. Philson being coroner and Mr. Levi Stanton foreman of the jury. Dr. Roberton deposed that he had made a post mortem examination, when he found "That death had been caused by heart disease." The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

A boy named Wm. Pool was severely injured at By croft's biscuit manufactory, Shortland-street, on the 30th April. He was engaged at a machine when he accidentally got the fingers of one hand drawn in by one of the rollers. The wrist waa greatly lacerated, and the fingers badly crushed. He was taken to the Hospital for treatment.

On the 17th May a young lad named named John Freestone got accidentally run over by a spring cart, driven by Mr. Thos. Crow, a farmer residing at Otahuhu. The lad had three of his ribs broken, and ho was placed in the accident ward at the Hospital for treatment. On his arrival here on Tuesday, May 3, Charles Anderson, master of the scow Waipu, informed the water police that a seaman named Carl Deug, was lost overboard off Point Rodney, midway between Whangarei and this port. He was a German by birth, and came here in the German warship Hertha some two years ago. Deserting from the vessel, he changed his name, and has since then been engaged in various coasting vessels. The police authorities received a telephone message on May 4 from Ho wick, from Constable Mclnnes, stating that a farmer named John Mattson had died suddenly at Pakuranga on the previous night. Deceased was of middle age, and had been in bad health for some time past, having been attended by Dr. Bewes for heart disease. A young man named Frederick Radford, son of Mr. Thomas Radford, the well-known mine manager, Thames, had a very narrow escape whilst at work on the 9th May on the Tookey Hill section of the Victoria mine. He was struck by a boulder and knocked down the shoot to the foot ol the hill. His mates at once ran down.to his assistance, and upon reaching him found him only partially conscious, and with a severe cub over his left eye. They, fearing that his skull was injured, sent for a vehicle and had him conveyed to the Hospital, where Dr. Williams examined him, but the latter found that with the exception of the cut on the forehead, which was a very painful one, there had been no other injury sustained other than the shock to the young man's system. A lad named Walter Donnelly, employed in the Waihi Company's reduction plant, got his right hand entangled in some of the machinery, with the result that his middle finger was so injured that it had to be amputated at the first joint, which was done by Dr. Williams at the Thames Hospital on May 11. A deck hand on the steamer Clematis took two of his fingers off at the windlass, while discharging cargo at Te Aroha on May 11. He was sent to the Thames Hospital. A fatal accident occurred at Aratapu on May 11, Captain William Francis falling from a building and sustaining injuries which subsequently proved fatal. The unfortunate man lingered on until late in the evening, when he succumbed to his injuries.

A sad fatality occurred at Hamilton on May G. Miss Eliza Hill, the daughter of Mr. T. M. Hill, of Hamilton, has been for some time in delicate health, and indeed has not been long out of the hospital, where she was treated for the bursting of a blood vessel. About three a.m. on May 6 her family were awoke by her violent coughing, but did not think there was anything unusual wrong. Miss Hill, who is two and twenty years of age, did not tret up as usual, and on attempting to awaken her her sister found that she was dead in her bed. Great sympathy is felt for the family, as this is the second grown-up daughter they have lost within the last year. There was no inquest, as Dr. Kenny, who was attending her, has given a certificate of the cause of death.

An inquest was held on the sth May at Kohukohu by Mr. Webster, J.P., on the body of James Melia, who was found drowned in the Hokianga river. A verdict of " Accidentally drowned" was returned.

James Quaid, with a team of five horses, left Waipaoa station,Gisborne,early on May 15. He was accompanied by J as. Niccoll, a recent arrival from Canterbury. The river was in high flood, and it was highly dangerous to attempt to cross. A boy milking close to the Kangatira Ford hoard someone cry out in rather an excited voice, " There is too much water, I will turn back," but paid no attention till, soon after, coo-eys were heard. These were from Jas. Orr, manager of the adjoining station, who having seen the dray pass his place became uneasy, and went to the river to see if it had crossed safely. Search was made, but nothing could be seen. Subsequently it was found that Niccoll had gob safely ashore, and got to Orr's station, bub that Quaid and the horses were drowned. Niccoll says that in attempting to turn every thing was in a moment clean swept away. The water was rushing at the place like a mill race. Quaid was a single man, aged 30, and came either fromTimaru or Napier.

A man named James Dodd, a resident of Tapu, was admitted to the Thames Hospital on May 13, suffering from an accident, whereby two of his ribs had been broken. Ib appears he had been getting firewood out of the bush, and had hitched a horse on to a log. In the course of transit the log became jammed, and Dodd went to lift the rear end to free it, when the log suddenly canted, and knocked him over the embankment for a distance of 20 feet, with the above result.

A young man about 18 years of age named John Brown, son of Mr. Brown, who is in charge of Mr. "L. Ehrenfried's farm at Puriri, met with a serious accident on the 27th April. While getting under a wire fence with a gun, which was loaded with shot, it exploded, and the unfortunate youth received the whole of the contents in his right breast. He was taken to the hospital at once, where he was pub under chloroform and the shot extracted. The wound is nob very deep, and nothing serious is anticipated. An elderly man named James Smith, better know as Jemmy the wheelwright, was found dead in bed, at the Thames on Thursday, the 28th of April. An inquest was held in the afternoon before Mr. Haselden, coroner, when a verdict of serous "sfissasa T, ,r, HE at Livingstone on May 4 by a fall of earth m a claim. He was about) seventy years of age.

An inquest was held on April 27 on Mrs. Eliza Britton, wife of a special settler at Omaha, who died somewhat suddenly, by Mr. Angove, coroner. It appears that on the morning of April 26 she took pains in her head, and later in the day pains in her stamach, and died in the evening unobserved by the attendant. The jury, after hearing the evidence, returned a verdict of " Death from natural causes." It appears that deceased had complained of her heart, and was an excessively stout woman, weighing over 15 stone. Constable Moor, of Mangonui, reports to Inspector Broham that a man named Alfred Blaine, who was poling -a punt laden with gum down the To Kaeo River on the Ist May, in company with Mr. Patrick Shine, storekeeper, had been accidentally drowned. Blaine was contemplating returning to England. A well-known miner named Joseph Haddock was killed at the Ross United Co. 's claim on April 23. A heavy fall from the face smothered him. The body has been recovered. A miner named George Finn, working in a sluicing claim on the right-hand branch of the Kanieri, near Hokit: l *«, was severely injured by a fall of earth. His leg and ribs were broken, and ho was very much bruised. He was carried a long distance by mates to the Kanieri forks, thence conveyed to the Hospital. It is expected that he will recover. Mrs. Eichardt,well-known as proprietress of the hotel at Queenstown, died on May 2 from injuries received by a fall downstairs. William Hubbard, a very old identity on the Waitaki, North Otago, was found dead in a cottage at Kuron on April 30. It is supposed that death resulted from heart disease. A few days ago a youth named Tinning met with a singular accident at Waitahuna. He was splitting a log with wedges, and had just inserted a third when it flew out, striking one of his fingers with such violence as to completely amputate it. Edward John File wood, a young man, died at the Dunedin hospital on May 3, it is believed from strangulation of the bowels. Filewood was 20 years of age, and was a well-known athlete, having won several walking matches. An accident happened at Wanganui on Wednesday afternoon, April 27, whoreby a, young man named Alex. Simpson lost his "life. He was riding on the box seat of a cab with a driver named Kinnaird, about 4.J miles out of town, when the horse took fright when crossing a small bridge over a creek, and bolted. Simpson was thrown off, and died before a doctor arrived. A man, W. Dickson, an insurance canvasser, was found on May 2 in an unconscious state in a paddock in Sydney-street, Wellington. He was taken to the hospital, where he died in a few hours. He appeared to havo been drinking heavily. At the inquest, the evidence did not disclose any facts suggesting that deceased meb with foul play, and "the jury returned an open verdict. A young man named Charles Morth, employed on the Government railway at Grey, was in charge of a poo of tar boiling over a fire, when the mixture exploded setting fire to his clothes. Before the flames were extinguished the poor fellow was badly burnt about the bodv. Mr. McGovern, of South Canterbury, was knocked down and ripped by a wild pig which he and Mr. Hardie, his partner, had disturbed as it was lying alongside the road. On being afterwards shot it was found the pig had only one eye, which probably accounts for the animal passing over Mr. McGovern to rush at his partner. An old farmer named Coad, living at Mangores, has been missing for three weeks, and a search has been made for him. A woman named Susan Davies, wife of a fisherman residing at Ohau Bay, Wellington, met her death on the Makara Road on Saturday, May 7. She was returning from town in a trap, about seven p.m., after delivering a load of fish, and it is surmised that the horse shied, throwing the trap over the embankment into the stream, which was flooded. The deceased was driving alone at the time of the accident, and when the body was extricated life was extinct. The immediate cause of death is believed to be drowning. Edward Hogg, a well-known Hokitika miner, was found dead near his claim at Rimu on the 9th of May. He went to work as usual. His mates went below two hours afterwards, and looked for him, and found him a few yards away dead. A young man named Potts died from lockjaw at Feilding. He was splitting a log when the wedge flew out, striking him orT the thumb. Lockjaw ensued shortly afterwards. A narrow escape from a serious accident took place at Ashburton on May 7. A groom, in the employ of Mr. David Thomas, auctioneer, was driving his employer's horse and gig across the railway line, in the centre of the town, when they collided with a train arriving from Mount Somers. The horse was dragged two hundred yards, and fatally injured. The harness gave way, and the trap escaped damage. The driver received a severe scalp wound, and it is feared concussion of the brain, also a sprained ankle. A young man named Thos. Howarth was received into the Dunedin Hospital on Wednesday, May 11, suffering from injuries received by falling off a dray load of chaff at Musselburgh,and death resulted half-an-hour afterwards. A child, 3£ years old, named Francis Yere Mitchelf, son of Mr. J. A. Mitchell, of Richmond, Christchurch, fell into a tub of scalding soapsuds on May 9, and died from the injuries next day. Four doctors attended him, and one of them gave a certificate, and the body was therefore buried on May 12. A shocking accident occurred as the Tarawera was approaching the Wellington wharf on May 16. William McDonald, carpenter, 35, stood ready with a fender, but slipped and fell between the wharf and the steamer. His legs and thighs were badly crushed. He died in the Hospital shortly after. A young Maori named Peta Witanawas drowned while attempting to cross the lake near Foxton during the gale on May 14. Mrs. Winchester, wife of the Hon. M. Holmes' coachman, died suddenly on May 14 at) Wellington. She retired to bed about ten p.m., and subsequently her husband discovered her sitting up, when she said she felt faint and expired almost immediately. An inquest was held. Aleck Forbes, a member of the East Christchurch Football Club, met with a serious accident on April 28. He was kicking a football in the club's practice-room, Pyne's Buildings, and inadvertently stepped through an open French window and fell 15 feet to the ground. He received injuries to the head. During the huntatTawa Flat, Wellington, on April 23, Bridson and Wylie came into collision through the former's horse swerving, and both riders were thrown. Wylie escaped, but Bridaon's horse rolled on him, and his collarbone was broken and shoulder fractured. He also received slight concussion of the brain. A well-known miner, named Joseph Haddock, was killed at the Ross United Co.'s claim, Hokitika, on April 23. A heavy fall from the face smothered him. The body has been recovered. An inquest was held at Dunedin on Monday, the 25th April, to inquire into the death of a child about five weeks old. The evidence of the woman who had charge of it was to the effect that she received the child on the 30th March, from a woman who declined to give hor name. She had seen the woman twice since. The police found that an illegitimate child named Mary Eliza Harvey had been registered as born at Port Chalmers, by the mother, Helen Maloney, a native of Limerick, 30 years. Inquiries at Port Chalmers had failed to discover that name. The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes.