INQUEST COMPLETED

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1234, 12 June 1947, Page 4

INQUEST COMPLETED

DEATH OF MR. JAMES STEPHENSON The inquest on the death of Mr. Jaimes Stephenson, of Tokoroa, was completed last week, and the coroner, Mr. A. C. Anderson, returned the verdict that death had been due to asphyxia caused by the presence cf a tumour in the larynx. R. M. Fraser, line foreman, employed by the Taupo Totara Timber Co., Ltd., on their private line at Tokoroa, stated that deceased had worked on the 'line for a number of years. Deceased had been suffering from a bad throat for many years, and, of recent months had been suffering more so than usual. Deceased had worked on the Monday and Tuesday, May, 19 and 20, buit on the Tuesday his throat appeared to be -affecting him very much. It seemed to make him short of breath, and he would have to stop work frequently and rest for a few minutes. Witness had walked home with him that evening. Usually of a morning witness picked up deceased along the line as he went to work. Another man, L. Seed, also walked with them. On the following morning Seed came to witness’ cottage and said he had knocked at Stephenson's door but could not wake him up. They went to the cottage and found that deceased was dead in bed. L. W. Seed corroborated Fraser’s evidence. Dr. R. C. Doherty stated he had considered after examining deceased and having heard the history of the case that deceased had died of asphyxia caused by the presence of a growth in the larynx. He had contacted the doctor who had at- ’ tended deceased over a number of years. However, the doctor had seen deceased only a few months previously and thought that the cause of death was unlikely to be due to a growth obstruction in the throat. An autopsy wag ordered by the coroner, and it was found that . death was due to asphyxia caused by the presence of a tumour of the larynx.