A SUDDEN DEATH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 14

A SUDDEN DEATH.

An inquest was held on Friday afternoon touching the death of Michael Cox, who was found dead in his bed at the Temperance Boarding House at an early hour of the morning. The inquest was held before Coroner Carew ana a jury of six, of whom Mr Andrew M'Kinnon was chosen foreman. Emily Roberts deposed that decased was her stepfather. He was, witness believed, born in Dublin, and had been in the colony between 30 and 35 years. He was married, and his wife was in GhristchUrch. He was 62 of 63 years of age, and had not been in good health for some time, suffering from his liver and from indigestion. He had a slight cold on Thursday, but otherwise appeared to be in his usual state of health, and made no complaint. He had kept his bed since Thursday week. He had been drinking, and always kept his bed af fcer doing bo. 'He had a drinking fit about six months ago, but not since. He insisted upon having drink, but witness did not give him very much. It was brandy that he drank principally. Witness sent for Dr Martin the previous evening, that he might give deceased a talking to in the morning, but deceased was then dead. Witness last saw deceased at 25 minutes past 12 o'clock in the morning. He was then in bed, and seemed all right. At about 20 minutes to 8 o'clock in the morning, witness again went to deceased's room, and onputting ber hand on his forehead found it cold. The bed was not disarranged. Dr Marlin was sent for, and he came about 10 minutes af forwards. Deceased had not been taking any physic. There was nothing of the kind for him to get. Dr Martin stated that he had attended deceased on several occasions, extending over some years. Last saw him about a fortnight ago, and he was then alive aud well. Witness saw deceased that morning. He was then in his bed, lying on his back, and had been dead five or six hours. There were no outward marks of the cause of death. He had been vomiting, and there was a smell of liquor. He suffered occasionally from hard drinking, and witness had cautioned him against it. Witness thought he was a pretty sound man. Knowing that deceased had been drinking for the past week, witness thought the cause of death was excessive drinking. Probably he died in the act of vomiting, °as his throat was full of watery fluid. Being a heavy man, and lying on his back, it was possible that he was suffocated while vomiting. Witness had no reason to suspect death from any_ other cause.'" Charles Jennings, night porter, stated that he was in deceased's room at 12 o'clock on Thursday night, holding up his head while the first witness gave him 1 some brandy and water. It was an ordinary nobbier. Witness did not go to his room again that night, as he did not knock with his stick for him ; but he went along the passage. Witness went into the room at half-past 7, and then went to Mrs Roberta's room and told her that if deceased was breathing, he was breathing very Blightly. Mrs Roberts then came down, witness heard no noise whatever in deceased's room during the night. At times he made a great noise if he did not get drink He had been eating very little, in fact nothing, except a few spoonfuls of soup, or a little beef tea. He could not keep anything on his stomach. This closed the evidence, and Mr Carew having shortly reviewed it, the jury without retiring returned a verdict to the effect that deceased died from natural causes.

Owing to some Auckland school committees closing the schools for lengthy periods without consulting the board, on account of measles, the board passed the following resolution : — "School committees are reminded there is no power to close schools unless in very exceptional circumstances, and schools should not be closed for more than one day without consulting the board or its executive."