FATAL FA A DOWNSTAIRS,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13201, 12 June 1906, Page 7

FATAL FA A DOWNSTAIRS,

DEATH FROM A FRACTURED SKULL, A.v inquest was held yesterday bv the coroner (Mr. T. firesham) on the body of Walter Fawcett, a man about 35 years of age. who died at the hospital on Sunday.

'According to evidence '.riven by Sarah Johnston and Benjamin Creenwor.d the deceased called to see Greenwood at Mrs. Johnston's house in drey-street on Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Johnston (old him that Greenwood had gone to Hie mors, and deceased went away. The deceased was quite drunk, and called bad; at the house about seven o'clock. lie had tea with Green,vood, and after sitting ill a room for a time went outside. Greenwood warned him to look out for tie- steps, and deceased laughed and said. " \ know litem all right." Then they heard a (rash, and Mrs. Johnton ran out and found the deceased on the ground by the side of the steps, evidently having fallen over the side on. to the concrete, the slops being upwards of 12ft high. Deceased was bleeding from the nose, but. they did not think he was burl. They bathed his bead, and thought ho was more drunk than hurt.

The; Coroner explained thai it would have been impossible to wive deceased's life with such a fracture.

Sergeant Hendry (to Mrs. Johnston): Was Mi-. Greenwood under the influence of liquor? Witness: No ; he is prohibited. Sergeant, Hendry: I know that; so was the deceased. S-ergean-*-- Hendry (to Mrs, .Johnston): Did you supply him with any drink in the house? Witness: No. My husband told Eaweett that he- was not to'untie to the house when drunk. Sergeant Hendry: You leave, litis unconscious man lying on the floor in the kitchen until morning. You did not get a doctor nor did you inform the _ policeman who passes your door every half-hour. Mrs.'Johnston: We" did. not think he was badlv hurt. Dr. Walker said a post-mortem examination revealed a largo amount of blood on the left side of the 'brain, and the covering of the brain was lorn. There ,was an extensive fracture inside on the left, side of the skull. The cause of death was a fracture Of the skull. . , . , Dr. It. (i. Aiekm. resident hospital :-ur-,,,-ou. deposed to the deceased being union--ion's when admitted, ami living ;-. few hours after admission.

Kvirietirt- of iuViit ideation was y.iv«ni. The jury brought in a vrdiei "I arriil.-nial death.