THE LATE MR. WHITTAKER

Patea Mail, 30 September 1938, Page 3

THE LATE MR. WHITTAKER

THE INQUEST The adjourned ' inquest into circumstances attending the death of tjie late Mr. Harry Whittaker was held on Wcdnesdaj r before Mr. E. F. Hemingway, coroner, when the following evidence w.as taken. Dr. Simmons gave evidence with regard to having examined the body of t,lie deceased. Death had evidently taken place half an hour previously. From the history of the symptoms of which deceased complained, witness was of the opinion that detath was undoubtedly due to heart failure, accelerated by the exertion of dancing while his heart was diseased. William Wills-Bremer stated that he went to a dance on Thursday, September 22nd at -the Whenuafcura Hall. The deems:id was to judge the waltzing competition during the evening. He was a good dancer, and whilst witness was speaking to him in tjhe hall, he men-ion.id about arranging how the judging was to be done, and appeared to be very excited. He had the first dance and afterwards sat on a seat by a table near the entrance. He had a game Of cards and won. He was very pleased over this, but shortly after ho appeared very quiet, and then suddenly leant- over and sank down in the seat. Witness caught hold of'him and took him out into the fresh air, but death had apparently taken place, as his pulse had stopped beating. Deceased was brought to Patea when Dr. ■Simmons saw him, but could only pronounce life extinct. Witness had known deceased for about six years, and during the past three years he had complained of his heart giving him •trouble, saying that it would not stand up to what it used to, particularly after the least exertion.

H. .0.“ Phillips also gave evidence with regard to the deceased having tea at witness' place on September 22, and later went to the dance with witness. He corroborated the evidence of the previous witness witjh. regard, to the deceased falling apparently in a faint. On various occasions deceased had complained of pains in his chest which ho attributed to a form of asthma. About six or eight months ago deceased stated that he had consulted a doctor in W&nganui who had given him a 'prescript*.on for his complaint.

The coroner said there was no doubt whatever as to the cause of death of the deceased. The verdict would be that the deceased, Harry Whittaker, died at Whenuiakura on September 22, 1938, the cause of death being heart failure.