MAN’S DEATH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18353, 22 March 1934, Page 7

MAN’S DEATH

due to natural causes NO EVIDENCE OF A BLOW (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. “Whether this man was struck or not has no bearing on the cause of his death,” commented Mr. W. B. McKean, S.M., coroner, at the conclusion of the inquest concerning the death of Robert Ashton, 44, single, who collapsed and died in Hobson street about 12.30 a.in. on March 3. Ashton, who was a farm laborer, was found lying on the pavement near a restaurant he had been in. The verdict was that his death was due to natural causes. The coroner said that the report of the pathologist showed that death was due to cerebral haemorrhage which, however, ■ was of such a kind that the doctorwas of the opinion that the haemorrhage was due to natural causes, and not to any blow or fall. The. abrasion which had been ineiftioned was also not. a fresh bruise, microscopic examination of the blood showing that the abrasion had occurred certainly some hours before death. “It is an extraordinary case,” he added. “I have some evidence that deceased was struck. One- witness says so definitely. Whether he was struck or not lias' no bearing on the cause of his death. The man when he entered the cafe was a sick man, and had been so for some days. Death was due entirely to natural causes, and not to any maltreatment. in the restaurant.” The coroner added that deceased was not under the influence of liquor. It was perfectly clear that his death was due to natural causes.