THE MAKAMARUA FATALITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12726, 1 December 1904, Page 3

THE MAKAMARUA FATALITY

THE INQUEST.

CORONER AND POLICE.

Ax inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Albert Jobr Long, who died at Rawlingstoue Private Hospital, Grafton Road, on Monday morning, in consequence of injuries received through falling off a horse at Maramarua, was held | at* St. David's Hall, Khyber Pais, yester- : day, before the coroner, Mr. T Gresham. , According to the evidence the deceased, who was a married man, 25 years of age, and school teacher at Maramarua, attended a public meeting at the local hall on the 23rd ult. As soon as the meeting was over he .started riding home with his wife, : a daughter of Mr. Win. Speckling, of Kaiangahape Road, and some friends. Itwas a bright moonlight night, and he had only shot ahead about a chain or so, when his companions behind heard a cry. Thinking tnat something had happened, they ail rode up to the spot whence the sound came, and there they found the deceased in a ditch, with his horse lying over him. The deceased, who was unconscious, was removed to a house three miles away, where he continued to lie in a state of unconsciousness until noon next day, when, his wile, becoming anxious, sent for imr.ical assistance. Dr. Williams, of Pukekohe, ordered deceased's removal to Auckland. Upon his arrival here the deceased was attended to by Drs. Robert on and Knight, but he never regained consciousness, and succumbed on Monday morning. Dr. Roberton stated that all that could be done for the deceased was done, and that the cause of death was laceration of the brain and hemorrhage, such as might have been received by falling off a horse. The Coroner, addressing the jury, said that it was a pity that Dr. Knight was not present, because he wanted to know why he had given a certificate of death in 'connection with the deceased's accident. He produced the certificate, which gave the cause of death as "injury from fall off a horse; cerebral hemorrhage, four days." The doctor, he said, had exceeded his powers altogether. He was not entitled to give a certificate for the cause of death where death resulted from an accident or from injuries received. When death resulted from the causes stated, then it was his duly to inform the coroner. In the present instance he had received nothing until he read the paper the previous mom- r ing, when he saw a paragraph announcing the death of the deceased. As he had notreceived any report about it, he at once notified the police, instead of their, notifying him, and directed the undertaker to delay operations. Mr. Win. Spedding (the deceased's father-in-law) here said that it was only fair to explain, in justice to Dr. Knight, that the doctor; only gave the certificate! after the speaker had informed him that the police had said that no inquest was necessary.-- . . The Coroner-: No one has a right to say that but the coroner at the place where; the death occurs. If the police interfere with the coroner's duties, they will find that they are in the wrong box. Sergeant Carroll (to Mr. Spedding): Who was it that informed you? Mr. Spedding (looking round the room and singling out Constable Annison): That constable thsre;- - ".< - -". l -—* ;,..

The Coroner (to the constable): Of course you were directed. The position is that the police did not inform me of the matter. I did nob get the i report until after ten o'clock this morning, after 1 had made a fight for it. Sergeant Carroll: I am sorry that Dr. Knight is not here. It is a reflection on the police, and I should like to see him before 1 say anything. . The matter then dropped, the Coroner saying that the matter was a serious one, because had he not noticed the paragraph, the Jaody might have .been interred, and possibly "have had to be exhumed.. • ' The jury returned a verdict .that dpath was duo to laceration of the brain and hemorrhage, 'resulting from a fall; v

When asked by a. Herald reporter last evening if lis had anything to say in reference to the remarks which-were passed at the inquest yesterday, Dr. Knight said that the police "first *>f all asked him .bs to whether he was prepared to give a certificate as to the cause of death. He replied is the affirmative, and as nothing farther was said, and the body was there awaiting burial,'he accordingly gave it, assuming that everything:was "right. He also stated that he was totally unaware of the fact that there was going to be .an inquest until half-past three in the afternoon, when he received a mes- J sage, that" one was held at Eleven, o'clock thafc | morning. ' That, he said, was the reason why he was not present. 1 '■{';•