DYING IN THE PARK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15625, 3 June 1914, Page 8

DYING IN THE PARK.

'v:; :/ '"• \' •' _ ''. I URIESttfUE to A^ALj.. ! : i ' .; s #> ; ' • |; %i,*7 .ss; -, —~rt'- * '-v *• ' verdict" OF THE. coroner • v -V'*'" '■ f-v * v •; '** •'. ' ir : NO SUSPICION OF FOUL PLAY. "; ••• . £ / ,'■'- Thevqfecutoetances surrounding the death of Albert Arthur • Halliwell, ;,\vhick took af'the hospital on Saturday evening, as the result of a fracture of the skull, were : by Mifi. F. V. Frazer,.. S. M.v • When'' the inquest, adjolinicd frort, Sunday, Svas Tes.umed at the Court?: Halliwell was found in iho early- hours of Saturday morning lying unconscious, arid in a pool of blood, in' the Albert Pork, where ho had evidently lain for some time in the rain. Evidence ap to" the condition of the deceased when admitted to the District Hospital was given by Dr. Maguire (medical superintendent). Death was attributable to hemorrhage, causing pressure on the brain, This might have been due to a fracture of tho skull, the result, probably, of a fall.

To Chief-Detectivo McMahoii: Considering that there was a fracture of the skull, he did not suppose it would have made much difference to Halliwell's ultimate condition if he had been found earlier.

Herbert Halliwell, barrister and solicitor, Hawera, said dcoeased, who was his brother, suffered from a weak heart. He was a heavily-built man, and if he fell would bo likely to fall heavily.

A fellow-boarder of the deceased, Lothar Robert Eilander, stated that he was in Halliwell's company on Friday evening. They parted at about 9.15 o'clock. Halliwell went along Victoria Street towards the Albert Park alone. When, at about 10.30 p.m., he discovered that Halliwell had not returned he went and informed the police, because ho knew the methodical habits of the man and thought it strange that ho should not have reached home. " Oh, I am All Right." Rudolf Mayn (a chemist's assistant), said that at about 9.30 p.m. on Friday ho saw Halliwell lying on the footpath in the Albert Park, near a clump of bush not far from the Bowen Avenue entrance. His head and face were in the channel. Witness spoke to him and, receiving no reply, he lifted him up and supported him on to the footpath. He then said "Oh, lam all right." Witness noticed that ho had received some injury as he was bleeding from* the side of the head, and there was some coagulated blood on his face, as if it had been bleeding for some time. Witness helped him along for some yards, after which deceased fell back. Witness got him on to the grass, where he laid him down. As he could not manage to fnove such a heavy man unaided he went and informed the police. Statement by the Police.

Tho police, testimony was to the effect that when ilia* first intimation was given at the watch-house, that a man had fallen ing the park, t the .watch-house keeper was taking a charge against a prisoner, and could not ai.jtjhe moment attend to the informant, . and that afterwards he discovered the man had gone without, leaving his namo., When a constable" "was. sent out into tho park, he could'find no trace of the deceased. Tho police then came to the conclusion that, as frequently happened, it'was ft case of ft man who, being drunk, had .fallen in the park, and had afterwards got- up and gone away. A cabman who had been asked by a previous witness (Mayn) iw tell thy watch-house keeper in what part of the park tho man had been lying had omitted to do so, as he also .thought it was a case of a drunken man; > •

Arthur- Keenan, a groom, said that, as bo was going to. work just before six o'clock oil • Saturday morning, lie heard a firoan as he went down Bowen Avenue. Witness turned back and discovered the deceased lying in the park. Seeing that the man was in a serious condition he did what he could for him and then summoned the police. ' ' The Coroner's Comments. Police evidence having been given regarding the finding of the deceased lying unconscious in the park, the coroner returned a verdict-, after reviewing the evidence, that the deceased had died from a fractured e-kull, the injury probably being the ;result of' a fall. The coroner added that it was vary regrettable that the deceased had lain in the park all night, but it was quite clear that his . life, could not havo been saved evon if ho had been found immediately after the fall. There was no evidonc&hosaid, to warrant the suspicion of foul play, neither was there any evidence to show how the deceased came to fall.