INQUEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18324, 15 August 1921, Page 9

INQUEST

EX-SOLDIER'S SUDDEN DEATH. Mr J, R. Bartholomew, S.M., coroner, conducted an inquest at the morgue on Saturday into tne circumstances surrounding the death ot Edwin Ueorgc William Jrlatcner, who was lound dead in a bottle cellar at the Excelsior Hotel at 6.40 p.m. on Thursday. Sergeant Murray represented the police, and Mr E. J. Smith appeared lor the relatives of the deceased. Edward John Hatcher, storekeeper, Dortobello, said that the deceased was his sou, and was a single man 20 years of age. He returned from the war some two years ago. As an out-patient at the Dunedin Hospital he had been attended by Dr O’Neill. Since his return from the war he had been very shaky, but to witness’s knowledge he waa not suffering from any trouble. The dedeceased was gassed while at the front. Witness last saw his son alive on Wednesday morning. He was then absolutely sober. . ... Dr Evans stated m evidence that in response to a call at 6.30 p.m, on Ihuisday he went to the Excelsior Hotel wheru ho found the deceased lying on some matting. Ihere were earth stains on his clothing, but there was nothing to indicate the cause of death. On making a post-mortem examination he found the body well nourished with no marks'of violence. The doctor stated that there was an operation mark on tho right thigh-bone, the right knee was swollen, tho muscles of the right thigh were wasted, and the right leg waa slightly short. The heart was healthy, but the kidneys wore congested. In his opinion death waa due to heart failure, following cirrhosis of tho liver. Thomas Alexander Dale, a seaman residing at 24 Eden street, said that on Thursday evening ho found the deceased in a kneeling position on the floor of the bottle cellar at tho Excelsior hotel. The deceased was supported by a box, tho head being doubled under the body with the side of the cheek on the ground. Ho lifted him up and placed him in a sitting position, but on seeing that something was the matter ho notified the barman and the licensee. The deceased looked as though ho had been placed there as his hat and stick were laid in a corner. George Henry Walsh, a porter at the Excelsior Hotel, deposed that ho first saw the deceased in the hotel bar at about 1 p.m. on Thursday. After cleaning the bar he saw the deceased lying on tho couch in the bar. His fifonds went away and left him. Witness carried him out to the bottle cellar and propped him up on each side with boxes. On returning to the cellar at about 3.30 p.m. he found tho deceased breathing steadily. He left him with the intention of visiting the cellar before 6 o’clock to conduct the deceased off tho prernses. About a month or six weeks ago he had placed the deceased in the cellar. He had received no instructions to place him in the cellar. The deceased hod groaned slightly but hod not spoken. The coroner stated that the evidence showed that deceased had evidently been drinking fairly freely, and had been deserted by his friends and left asleep in the bar. In view of the conditions surroundng the death close inquiries should be made, and he instructed the police to ascertain tho methods of dealing with intoxicated persons in the hotels. His formal verdict was that death was duo to heart failure following cirrhosis of the liver.