THE GLADSTONE HOTEL FATALITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14002, 7 September 1907, Page 7

THE GLADSTONE HOTEL FATALITY

DEATH FROM AN ACCIDENTAL' FALL.

An inquest was held at tho ] Dunedin Hospital yesterday afternoon into tho circumstances surrounding tho death of Thomas Murray, who died in tho Hospital on Thursday morning as tho result of injuries received by a fall down tho stairs of the Gladstone Hotel. Mr C. C. Graham was tho presiding coroner, and William Wills was chosen foreman of tho-jury. Station-sergeant King represented the police. Dr E. J. O'Neill stated that early on tho morning of tho sth inst. ho was called to tho Gladstone Hotel, reaching there between half-past 1 and 2 a.m. There 110 found deceased lying on the floor at the foot of tho well of the staircase. He was lying ..on his back, with his head resting on a pillow. On the floor at tho side of his head wcro a number of blood-stains. On examination found deceased to bo unconscious. There was a small scalp wound at tho back of the head. General symptoms pointed to some gave injury to. the brain. Dressed tho wound, and considered' that deceased should bo removed to the Hospital at once. The ambulance was procured, but thcro was some delay over telephoning for it. It was not until about an hour after witness called at (ho hotel that tho ambulance was procured. The peoplo at- the hotel rendered every possible assistance, done everything possible to make deceased comfortable prior to witness's arrival. .

To Station-sergeant King: The ambulanoo was rung up for, but' no answer was obtained. A voliiolo was then obtained from the. livery 6tab!o, but was found not to bo suitable. A man was then despatched for the ambulance. Did not know what timo the accident occurred.

' Station-sergeant King:' Supposing tho accident had occurred a few hows' prior to your arrival,- would that delay have affected the condition of deceased? Witness: It would havo made no difference in the ultimate result.

Tiio Coroner: When yon examined the deceased on arrival was there anything to indicate that he was under the influence of liquor? Witness: I did not detect any.

Station-sergeant King: Was deceased likely to have had an epileptic fit? Witness: Ho might have had a fit. Heart trouble would cause a fainting attack.

Dr Falconer slated that at 3 o'clock on tho morning of the sth inst. deceased, was brought to the Hospital in tho ambulance andiadmittcd at once. Examined deceased, and found him suffering from a scalp wound at the back of his head, which had already been dr&ssed. There were no signs of fracture. Ho was breathing heavily, and quite unconscious, and remained in that condition until 11.30 on Thursday morning and then died. A post mortem examination was held by witness and Dr Barnett. The brain was found to bo in a. congested condition, and tho liver and lieart showed signs of fatty degeneration. There was no fracture of tho skull or spine. Tho causo of death was shock anil concussion of tho brain. The deceased would not be a particularly healthy man. Did not take particular notice of deceased's condition ■when ho arrived as regards sobriety, but about 9 a.m. detected an odour of alcohoL .Tofieph O'Grady, commission agent, identified the body of deceased as that of Thomas Hurray. , Deceased followed no occupation, and was a boarder at, tho Gladstone Hotel. Was in deceased's company on tho night of tho 4th inst. Saw-him shortly after .10 o'clock, when he was in his usual state of health and quite sober. After some persuasion deceased had a drink with witness, taking whisky and raspberry. Left- him about -10.15 standing in tho passage. A few minutes afterwards witness retired, leaving deceased in a sitting room. Did not seo him alivo again. John Collins, licensee of the Gladstone Hotel, said the deceased had been a boarder with him for the past eight yeare. Ho was a first- oousin of witness's wife. Latterly he had followed no occupation, and waspossessod of independent means. Was a. 6inglo man, aged 44 yoara " ''.On' tJio [ evening of Wednesday, 4th inst.,'deceased was in the commorcial room anil appeared, to bo sleeping up till about 9.30. On tho closing up of the hotel- deceased camo into tho passage and sat down there on a chair. Ho took a terrible fit of coughing, a complaint which ho had been subject to for years past. Witness went into the sitting room and remained there talking with somo of the boarders until late. Deceased camo to the door of tho room and, having another fit of coughing, left without entering the room. Later on witness met deceased in the passage. Stood talking for a while and then doceased proceeded upstairs to retire to bed. He was quite sober and had" only one drink to witness's knowledge. Witness remained talking with a boarder for a while and then had just commenced to go upstairs when ho saw deceased fall heavily paet him from somewhere above into the well of the stairs below. Heard no sound previously. ■ Immediately went to doceaeed, who was lving on his lack on tho floor. Loosened his necktie and collar and nibbed his chest in the region of the heartV After a while deceased commenced ■to breatho very heavilv. A doctor was telephoned for, but there was somo delay in,.getting, a reply. Then there was a further delay in getting the ambulanoe. Tho Coroner: It, seems unfortunate that there should have heen a. delay. It is absolutely necessary in a call for tho ambulance that an answer should bo received at once. In a ease of luemorrhage every minute is of the greatest importance. However, as Dr O'Neill said, tho delay did not make any difference in tho ultimate result..

In reply to Station-sergeant Kin;;,,witness said he did not see deceased going .upstairs, and did not know exactly'when.lie went up. Deceased's bedroom wis. on .the top flat. The construction of the" system of stairwav made it Dossible for a person to fall to the ground from the top flat. When interviewed by a. constable '■ on'the morning of the accident ho might have told him t-iint. the accident occurred about 11.30 p.m. or thereabout.'!. Deceased ivas perfectly sober. His health during tho past two weeks had not been so good as usual. He had once or twice been treated for heart disease. Was a man who never drank to excess. Was subjoet to vety severe fits of coughing, and when iliey came on lie had to take hold of something for self-support. James Young, hotolkocper, and a boarder at the Gladstone Hotel at tlio time of tho accident, fjave corroborative evidence. Deocasod, in a canv«£ation with witness before retiring to bod, lwl requested him

bj (rain-in tho iinoming, as ho had eomctiling important io tell him. To Staiion-sergeant King: It must have been past midnight -when tho aooident ocourcd. Could not say definitely what timo it-was. . . , Tho Coroner said tho medical evidence snowed that tho cause of death had been •concussion of tho brain us tho. result of a, -■fall, and; the only question was.how did •the fall occur? 'l'lio mcdical ovidenco further showed that dcoeased Buffered from fatty degeneration of tho heart, anil it was possible that ho may have ovcr-oxcrted himself whil<j ascending the stairway and then having a fit of coughing may havo taken "hold of the balustrade at tho top to support; himself, and a fainting attack coming on, oTOrbakuiecd. himself and fallow-to the'bottom flat,. Tho jury, without hesitation, returned 9. Terdict to the cffcct that tho cause of death was ooncussion of tho Ijrain, the result of 1 an accidental faJl from a staircase.