INQUEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9978, 21 February 1894, Page 4

INQUEST.

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of John Aitkenhead was held at the residence of the deceased in St. David street yesterday morning, before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six, of whom Mr Thomas Johnston was chosen foreman. W. Dickson, a groom residing in Maclaggan street, deposed that the deceased was his brother-in-law. Deceased had bean about 32 years in the colony, and at the time of his death he was about 41 years of age. He was a storeman in the employ of Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co., with whom he had been for many years. For the last year witness had noticed that deceased did not look so well as formerly, and for the last two months had complained ofpains in the stomach. He was away from his work for five days—from the 9th to the 14th of the month—and Dr Keimer attended him. On Sunday last he said to witness that he thought he was getting stronger. On Monday, when deceased was at witness's house for dinner, he said he felt ill; he thought ho had walked too quickly up the hill. The illness passed away, however. On their way back to the store witness suggested to deceased that he should take more reet, but deceased said in reply that the illness would wear off. Witness saw deceased again at 20 minutes past 4 at his work, and deceased did not seem so lively then as he generally was. Witness did not see him again alive. Deceased had told witness that he thought the cause of the pain of which ho complained was a strain he had given himself some time or other. Dr Reimer said he examined tha deceased on tho 9th inst, and prescribed for him. Deceased got stronger, and' witness saw him on the 12th, when he again prescribed for him, and ordered him to take a holiday for a month if possible, and to keep from hard work. On Monday night witness saw him between 7 and 8 o'clock. He said he had been engaged in shifting bales of wool, and that when ho was working tho pain in his stomach returned, and he had difficulty in breathing. Witness examined his heart, and found alarming symptoms—the irregularity of the heart's action and groat functional depression. Witness ordered the necessai y medicines, prescribed a stimulant on the road home in the shape of port wine, and told him also to drive home and to lie down quietly. Witness told him, too, that he was in a dangerous state, and that he was not to go to work. Between S and 9 o'clock witness heard of his death. The cause of death was from failure of the heart's action, accelerated by weakness caused by an attack of diarrluea and vomiting, and by returning to his work too soon. Thomas Cuttle, licensee of the Itambow Hotel, said deceased came to his hotel on-Monday night. He looked very weak, and was in a cold sweat, He asked for some water, which witness gave to him. He vomited a little, and witness laid him on a sofa and sent a man for Dr Martin. In thr.ee or four minutes the doctor arrived, and, finding the deceased's heart very weak, said he was afraid the man was going to die. Immediately afterwards ho again tried deceased s heart, and said the beating "had stopped, and that the man was dead. Deceased came into the hotel at 8 o'clock, and at a quarter past 8 he was dead. Constable l'aterson gave unimportant cviThe' jury returned a verdict to the effect that death resulted from failure of the heart's action.