DEATH AT POLICE STATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20565, 14 November 1928, Page 11

DEATH AT POLICE STATION.

An inquest was held at the Morgue yesterday afternoon concerning the death of Robert Murdoch, 43 years of age, who died at the police station on Monday night. He had been arrested for drunkenness, and had been remanded for a week for medical treatment. The inquest was held before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., sitting as coroner. Senior Sergeant Quartermain represented the police. Alexander Murdoch stated that deceased was his brother. He was 45 years of age, and was unmarried. When witness saw him he thought he was rather weak from the effects of drink. Witness undertook that two doctors should be sent to examine deceased. Constable Coatsworth stated that on Saturday he had arrested deceased for drunkenness on the Dunedin Railway Station, about 5 o'clock. When searched he had a bottle and a half of whisky on him. Dr Evans said that on Sunday morning he received a telephone message, and in consequence he visited the deceased. He was very nervy, and shaky. The pulse was perfectly good. Witness prescribed for the man, who had an abundance of blankets to keep him warm. The cause of death was sudden heart failure, and in the opinion of witness was due to the condition of the liver and kidneys.

Constable Coulter stated that medicine had been obtained from Dr Evans by special effort. Deceased had not taken anything more than a drink of tea on Sunday morning. Later he had had a little soup and bread. The coroner said that the evidence showed that it was a case of sudden heart failure. Every care and attention had been given to the deceased, and the heart failure had arisen owing to the condition of the .liver and kidneys. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.