COLLAPSE AT CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3972, 29 April 1930, Page 62

COLLAPSE AT CONFERENCE.

DEATH-OF MR JOHN ASHTON.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

WELLINGTON, April 21. Immediately before his death Mr John Ashton, of Dunedin, who collapsed at the 1 conference of the Spiritualist Church on Good I< riday, write the words, “ Poison, 1 think,” on an envelope. The inquest was opened to-day and was adjourned sine, die after the coroner (Air T. B. .M’Neil, S.M.) had indicated that he believed from the doctor's report that death was due to heart failure. A post mortem is being held.

Evidence was given by Thomas Ashton of Dunedin, a brother of the deceased, who said that the deceased was a waterside worker, aged 51 years, and had served in the South African War. From an intimate knowledge of his brother witness had no hesitation in saying that death was probably due to natural causes. Robert Nicholas Ridd said- that he lef; Dunedin ln company with Air Ashton o.i \\ ednesday last. Both were attending the conference, and they stayed at the Bristol Private Hotel. ’The session opened on Friday morning at 10 o'clock, and Mr Ashton gave an address in the course of t.ie morning. The first indication of illness occurred when Mr Ashton passed an envelope across the table to witness with the words, “Poison, I think,” written on the back. Air Ashton asked permission to retire from the room, and died in the yard of the Te Aro Hotel directly afterwards. Witness had known the de ceased for 10 years, during which time he had been in a normal state of health So far as witness knew Mr Ashton neither took anything nor did anything that might have caused his death.

The coroner said that the doctor who had attended Mr Ashton in Dunedin had been unable to give a death certificate although he had inclined to the belief that death must have occurred from heart failure. On this account and on account of the envelope which had been passed acioss the table he had ordered a postmortem examination to be made. From the doctor's verbal report he was satisfied that death was due to heart failure, a bad condition of arterial sclerosis having been made apparent in the course of the autopsy. His verdict would be in accordance with the doctor's evidence. Ihe inquest was adjourned sine die and wil. be concluded when the doctor furnishes a formal report of the post mortem.