DEATH IN A POLICE CELL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9621, 29 March 1917, Page 3

DEATH IN A POLICE CELL

INQUEST ON DISCHARGED SOLDIER. An inquest was held yesterday noon by Mr W. fl. fa.M .nto the circumstances of the death of Joseph Griffiths, 33 years of age. who was found dead in a cell at Lambton station on Tuesday morning. nun in IpS Dew said he had made inquiries concerning deceased, and it appeared that Griffiths was at. one time a member of the 11th Reinforcements. In February. 1915, he was sent from the camp to the Waikato Sanitarium for health reasons. Deceased remained m the institution from February JBth to July 27th, 1915, but his conduct was such that the management was compelled to get rid of him. He was 2"®" a ticket for Wellington, but only got as far as Hamilton, where he was admitted to hospital on August Bth and remained until December Idb. Here again his conduct was such .that the hospital authorities were unable to allow him to stay any longer in the institution. A private family at John gonville took an interest in the deceased and provided him with a home at their expense. Finding that he from a lung disease the Health Department ordered his removal to tho Soldiers Hostel at Newtown. L a terbe trouble, since when the War Itelief Association had been providing for him and doing all it could, to keep him alive. Dr. Fvife. who made a post-mortem examination of tho body of deceased, stated that he found it in an emaciated condition. There were no bruises l or marks of any kind about the body. There was practically no lung substance to breath© with, and it was liardly possible to believe that deceased could have lived on account of his condition. The cause of death was exhaustion from chronic phthisis complicated with alC t ol rWillis. secretary to the War Relief Association, said that his association had paid deceaseds board in, the city. Ho bad been m camp for about two weeks, but-had not been away from New Zealand as a soldier. He was understood to be single and a native of I 'lergeant Wade stated that he visited the cells at Lambton police station many times during the night of March 2<th. Griffiths coughed a lot, but made no complaint. At about 3 ©clock m the morning be asked for a drink of brandy and. was told there was none in the St A*verdict was returned in accordance with the medical, testimony. The coroner said the case was a very unfortunate one. 'Several institutions, associations, and private persons baa tried to do what they could for the deceased. It was evident be was a discharged soldier. The police were carrying out their duty in trying to place him in a suitable institution, and could not be aware of his condition. The unfortunate man was really on the point of death when he was received at the police station, and must have auifered pain although he did not complain. The War Relief Association has intimated that it will bay the expenses incurred in the burial of deceased, who had no relatives as far as is known in New Zealand.