MAN FOUND DEAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23155, 29 September 1938, Page 20

MAN FOUND DEAD

GAS TAP TURNED ON ACCIDENTAL OCCURRENCE "It seems to me I would not be justified in finding death was due to suicide tinder the circumstances disclosed' in the evidence,", said Mr.'F. K. Hunt, coroner, yesterday, when an inquest was held into the death of Edward Cockfield, a confectioner, aged 67, who was found dead in bed at his residence on September 10. Evience was given that deceased, for two months , prior to his death, had been living in a bach. at the back of a.,residence, in Murdoch Road, Grey Lynn: He was an old age pensioner and kept a small confectionery shop in Ponsonby Road. M Thfe owner of the residence in Murdoch Road, Augusta' Maney, said she had known deceased for two months and he had occupied the whare at the back of her house. She last saw him at 9 a.m. on Friday, September 9, when he appeared to be in his usual health, with his usual happy disposition.

Deceased had failed to appear on Friday, as was his custom, to pay his rent. On the Saturday witness went to his whare and found the door locked and smelt gad fumes. Deceased had once complained that the gas tap was difficult to turn, but it had been remedied by hammering and the application of oil. It would be quite possible for the tap to be turned accidentally by being humped or brushed. Evidence that ho had been called to the deceased's whare at 12.30 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, was given by Dr. L. G. Drury. He found deceased had been dead for about 12 hours. Tho gas tap was turned on. There were no signs that deceased had had a struggle and there were no wounds. The coroner returned a verdict that, death was due to accidental gas poisoning- ______