NATURAL CAUSES

Southland Times, Issue 21219, 21 October 1930, Page 7

NATURAL CAUSES

DEATH OF A LABOURER.

ASSAULT CHARGE DISMISSED.

(Per United Press Association.) Auckland, October 20. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned by Mr Hunt, S.M., Coroner," at the adjourned inquest concerning the death of Charles Arthur Ganderton, aged 56, a labourer, who died in Auckland hospital last Wednesday. Following investigations by police officers earlier in the week a hawker, James Anderson Gallot, aged 30, was arrested and charged with assaulting deceased so as to cause actual bodily harm, the hearing of the case being adjourned until the conclusiSn of the inquest.

Dr Murray, who made an examination of the deceased, said there were no marks beyond an old bruise below the right eye. In witness’s opinion death was due to acute lobar pneumonia and pericarditis. Dr Main, of the hospital staff, said he was-satisfied that death was not attributable in any way to violence and was due wholly to natural causes. The Coroner returned a verdict, in accordance with the medical evidence.

The case against Gallot was then called, the charge being reduced to one of common assault. He entered a plea of not guilty. No evidence was called, the Magistrate stating that he was satisfied from' the depositions of witnesses 'at the inquest that the matter was nothing more than a drunken brawl. The charge was dismissed. 1