A SORRY SEA SQUABBLE

NZ Truth, Issue 915, 9 June 1923, Page 3

A SORRY SEA SQUABBLE

Nightwatchman Dies at Greymtath More Hospital Delay.

("Truth's" Greymouth Rep.) Revelations of a not dissimilar state of affairs at the Grey River Hospital to those. which held at the Wellington Hospital on the. occasion of the admittance of the late Miss Phyllis Porter were made at the inquest before Coroner Meldrum last week into i the death of William Henry Simpson, formerly seaman and nightwatchman on 1 the Kaitirna, and have attracted the cold searchlight . of publicity on the doings of . that institution. The facts of the ,case were that Simpson was acting 1 o i Easter Monday night m the capacity of nightwatchman on board the Kaituna, which was then In Greymouth loading for Dunedin. While carrying out the usual duties that appertain to that nocturnal occupation he noticed a figure stealthily creeping from tho forecastle and moving towards the gangway. Immediately he challenged the figure, which was believed to be that of one of the ship's crew attempting to leave the ship without permission. Enraged at being checked so promptly, the man turned on the nightwatchman and a fierce struggle . ensued. Simpson got the worst of it, for the scuffle had not progressed long before the other man, catching him by the legs, threw him over, and landed him heavily on the deck. All happened near the hour of mid-night, and very few were about the waterfront at that time. Soon, however, Constable Brazier arrived on the scene to. find Simpson m great pain on a forecastle bunkHe had had his shoulder put out as a result of the fall, and had to be taken to the hospital; At the time of the accident and for weeks afterwards ' deceased resolutely withheld making any statement as to how he came by his injuries, and the affair remained for a long time a complete mystery. Jt was not until a friend of his, with whose sister he was keeping company, visited him that he explained what had- baffled the police for such a length of time. He told his friend to ■write to the girl explaining the circumstances, which he then outlined. He also made a complaint that the hospital doctor DELAYED EXAMINING HIM from the time he was admitted, early on the morning of April 3, until between 10 and 11 o'clock that day. This was a somewhat serious allegation against the medico concerned, Dr. J. Lovell Gregg, as some weeks after he had reduced the dislocation sepsis set m and the shoulder swelled very much. The nurse on duty at the time, Miss Gladys Fox, stated that Simpson reached the hospital at 2.15 on the morning of April 3. . He complained of pain In the shoulder and said he had had a fall. After the nurse put him to bed she rang up the doctor, and he ordered a sleeping draught, which was administered. The doctor, she said, saw him at 10 o'clock and reduced the dislocation. Dr. W. McKay, speaking of the delay, said m reply to the coroner that the patient would suffer a great deal of discomfort from the delay. He would not say, however, that he wouldsuffer any harm. Giving the history of the case, Dr. McKay said that the dislocation was reduced m the usual way by Dr. Gregg on the morning of April 3. There was an extraordinary amount of swelling m the region of the shoulder bone, due apparently to the effusion of blood at the time of the accident, but no external bruise. The patient's general condition was good, and the swelling continued daily to subside. • Two weeks after Simpson's admission to the hospital Dr. Gregg resigned, haying some time before accepted a position at Picton. After that the patient was m the care of Drs, McBrearty ahbV witness. Both saw deceased,., m consultation, on April 27, and from April. 30 deceased remained In Dr. Mcßrearty's hands. ' About May 11 Simpson showed signs of effusion m tho tissues round the shoulder. This was treated m the usual way, but as no Improvement followed and the patient's condition was becoming lower, Dr. Mcßrearty and witness again met m consultation as to tha possibilities of further treatment. They decided that THE ONLY REMEDY for the arrest of the leakage was to open up the armpit and examine for any bleeding vessel. This was done, and*^ one of the large vessels of the armpit was found to be considerably damaged. The vessel was tied and the operation concluded as rapidly as possible. The patient, however. did not rally from the operation, and from the cpmbined . causes of loss of blood and shock died very soon afterwards. In addition to his other injuries the» deceased was suffering from damage to one of the large nerves m the vicinity of the shoulder blade. The violent protrusion, of the head of the bone, said witness, caused the poisoning. After asking several questions relative to the deceased's treatment m the hospital the coroner returned a verdict that deceased came to his death from hemorrhage and shock from an operation necessary, to prevent internal bleeding following on an after-effect from a dislocation of tho shoulder. The sequel to the story came last week', when the Dunedin police arrested Charles Michael Doyle, a member of the Kaltuna's crow, on a charge of manslaughter. He was brought to Greymouth on Tuesday, and the following day was called upon to answer this grave charge at tho Greymouth Magistrate's Court. After evidence had been heard Doyle was committed for trial.