SUDDEN DEATH

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11438, 7 February 1923, Page 4

SUDDEN DEATH

CORONER’S INQUIRY. HEART DISEASE THE CAUSE. The inquest upon Walter Pearson, a waterside worker, 46 years of age, who died at his home, No. 29, Hutt road, Kaiwarra, early on Sunday morning, was conducted by Mr W. G, Riddell, S.M., yesterday. Dr. C. Monro Hector said ■ that the body had been in an unusual state of decomposition. In his opinion death was due to syncope or fatty disease of the heart. He would say that there had been an unusually virulent organism present in the man’s body. Dr. Giesen, who had attended the deceased up to January 23rd, agreed with the doctor who had conducted the post mortem, and Dr. Elliott gave similar evidence. Nancy Pearson, widow of the de ceased, said that her husband had seemed in good health when he had retired at 7 o’clock the previous night. He had met with an accident when working on the s.s. Tekoa on May 17th, 1922, and had not been well since. He had been an out-patient at the Wellington Hospital for a time and later was attended by Dr. Giesex. The coroner found that death was due to syncope. Mr. P. J. O’Regan appeared for the widow and Mr H. F. O’Leary for + he New Zealand Shipping Co.