SUDDEN DEATH OF YOUKG MAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12657, 10 January 1912, Page 7

SUDDEN DEATH OF YOUKG MAN.

An inquiry into the circumstances sur- j rounding the death of the young man, ' •John "William Wood, who " was found' •ciead m an outhouse at the premises of j Mr John Lowry, Roebuck road, on Monday, was held at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon. In the absence of the I district coroner, Mr W. A. Barton, the ' inquiry was conducted by Mr 11. E.I Hill, J. P. The following "jury- was em ' panelled : Messrs Walter * Burnand, ' Hnhp Sheridan, Charles Moore, Michael ' Doherty, Robert Miller, .and Emil I'ageruiid. Mr Moore was chosen foreman. Dr. Chas. F. Scott deposed as to the result of his post mortem examination ot the body of deceased. The actual cause ot death was acute inflammation of the left lung— pneumonia— accelerated by a diseased condition of the internal organs generally. There was extensive 1 evidence of chronic alcoholic habits, but no evidence or suspicion of any irritant poison m tlie stomach. The conditions he had described were clearly the' cause of death. There was extensive' disease of the kidneys, and very ex- . tensive disease of the liver, which was I probably twice its natural size. The ; death -was considerably accelerated by ] i w a>» t of food. There was evidence of , a light meal having been taken perhaps •some six hours prior to the man's death, ; but generally speaking there was no evidence of deceased having had sufri- • cient food. There was no evidence of violence on the body, except a small abrasion on one of the shins. I To the acting-coroner: Under the cir- ; cumstances, and Avith the conditions as ! ; I have described, it would be quite j reasonable to presume that the death I would, be a sudden one. i John LoAvrv stated tliat he was a laborer, residing at No. 19, Roebuck road. He kneAV the deceased. At i about 10.-30 p.m. on Saturday last deceased came to his house and asked if he could stay there for a couple of nights, as lie "was starting Avork on Monday. Deceased remained vrith Avitness m the house until Monday. On Monday morning, just after 5, witness got up and made a meal ready, but deceased would eat nothing, having only a drink of tea. In reply to a query as to "how is it this morning, Bill?" deceased said he did not feel too well, but thought he Would be right after he got a "taste." The two of them left the premises together, witness putting the key m his pocket. Deceased, however, asked him to leave the key Avith him (deceased), as he did "not feel well. Deceased said, "I Avill not go to work to-day. I may go back and have a lie doAvn." Witness then put the key under the door mat. Deceased accompanied him as far as the Record Reign hotel, where they both went inside and had a drink. Deceased had some "Three Star" brandy, with which he drank water. They. then proceeded together as far as Derby street, where deceased said -he would go backto the hotel and have another drink. In the evening he (witness) returned home about 5.30. He found the key m the door and m the bedroom Avhere deceased had been sleeping, his coat, vest and cap were on a chair. Witness then went into the back yard, looking for deceased, and saw him m an outhouse apparently dead. He (witness) then communicated Avith the 'police. Deceased had told him that his age Avas, between 28 and 29, but he (witness) did not know if deceased had any relatives m the colony. During the period he had known deceased, he had, on occasions, seen him under the influence of drink. The reason deceased gave for . wanting to stay Avith Avitness was that he had no place to stay, and had no money. During Sunday they had no liquor, having , no opportunity of getting any. William Ouinton. driver for the Borough Council, said that he last saw deceased alive at about 7.10 a.m. on Monday. Deceased vms then m Palmerston road, below Mi* Lowry 's house, m which direction he was going. Deceased appeared to be perfectly sober. Const. Johnston deposed to the finding of the body m the outhouse at Mr Lowry's house at 5.40 p.m. on Monday. Deceased was quite dead, the body being cold and stiff. A. search of the dwelling revealed no alcohol or poison, He removed the body to the morgue. In the deceased's Savings Bank book it was shown that the amounts had all been withdrawn. A search of deceased's person resulted m the finding of one shilling, the only thing of arty value m \ his pockets. He had known deceased for ' some time, and nad known him to be m reduced circumstances through excessive drinking. .^ I Sergt. Hutton stated that enquiries had been made m the vicinity of Mr Lowry's residence, but Avithout result as to any- 7 one having seen him. Enquiries at the J Record Reign hotel showed that after leaving Mr Lowry deceased did not re-, turn there. This Avas prior to the | meeting with the Avitness Quinton, and there could be no doubt that deceased , was perfectly sober. This was all the evidence, and the jury returned a verdict that death Avas due . to acute pneumonia, - m accordance Avith , the medical testimony. j