DEATH IN HOTEL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17180, 10 February 1930, Page 2

DEATH IN HOTEL

M/Ltf WANTED BY POLICE DETECTIVE'S EVIDENCE •■ ' ; Warrants were out for the man from Wellington and. Dunedhi, and there was a suggestion" that' offences had been committed at Gisborne and in Aucklatidjv according to Detective J. A. .Moon, wh6 gave evidence at an inquest at. Auckland* concerning the death of John Walker. Walker collapsed ' and died suddenly last week while being hv teiwiewed by detective Moon and Constable Bowman, in Jiis room at a city Uotefi Evidence, of identification was to the effect that the mail was 41 years of age. lie liad'ieen a lieutenant in the Taranaki"B«gimeht during the war. It was not cefVa'fn whether he was married or what his occupation was. He was believed to have : no regulaf abode. A coniplaint that Walker had issued a valueless cheque in Auckland on February 2 had led to the interview, according to" Detective Moon. Walker was wanted on warrants from Wellington and jDunedin: He also had to be interviewed'concerning alleged offences at Uisborne': Witness "and Constable Bowman had gone to a city hotel and found WalkW iri his room, clad in pyjamas. After putting on shirt and trousers, he had reached for his soeks, and then commenced W breathe heavily, immediately collapsing. Witness had placed him on YlnVbed, and, as the man appeared to fatly,' went out and called Dr. "P. Motf. ;riie doctqr gave it as his opinion that Walker'should be removed to hospital. he - returned' after calling an jmb.iflancle.tlw) detectiye found that the jifan 'was dead. *'"'"We'Tourid" a quantity of powder on a table in the room," added the detective. '♦'Walker dklnot touch it while wo were in the room, but it has been submitted to tlfe Government Analyst." The detective's statement was corroborated by Constable Bowman. Nothing, in the opinion of Dr. Peter Moir, Could have been done to save Waiker*s life; Witness had found him dving and in a state of coma. • 'the inque?t was temporarily adjourned pending the'arrival of the doctor's ' report' ori' the post-mortem which wa coi-op.er had ordered.—Sun.