CORONER’S FINDINGS AT INQUESTS

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 9

CORONER’S FINDINGS AT INQUESTS

DEATH OF THOMAS SCULLY More evidence in the inquest into the death of Thomas Scully, aged 71, of Invercargill, was heard yesterday by the Coroner, Mr R. C. Abenxethy, S.M. O. Howard Hunter, superintendent of the Southland Hospital, said that Scully was admitted to hospital on March 23, suffering from head and leg injuries suffered in a traffic accident. He died on May 14 from pneumonia. In answer to the Coroner, the witness said that the pneumonia was indirectly caused by the accident. His confinement to bed following the accident was a predisposing cause of pneumonia. Scully’s age was an important factor. Had he been a young man his death from pneumonia would have been unexpected, but in view of his age it was not unexpected. The Coroner found that Thomas Scully died at Invercargill on May 14, 1940, the cause of death being hypostetic pneumonia indirectly caused by head and leg injuries suffered in a collision between a tram-car and a motorcar' driven by William Scully. BUILDER’S DEATH In an inquest into the death of Henry William Dobbie, aged 58, a builder, who was found drowned in the Waikiwi stream on May 16, 1940, Mary Elizabeth Dobbie said hex' husband had left home on May 12 on his bicycle. His health had not been good for some years, but he appeared on the day of his departure from the house to be in his usual spirits. Constable H. J. Mulholland gave evidence that the body of Dobbie was found in the Waikiwi stream on May 16. ' A verdict was returned that death occurred at Invercargill on or about May 12, the cause being drowning, there being no evidence of any suspicious circumstances to'show whether death was due to misadventure or otherwise.

FARMER’S DEATH An inquest was held into the death of James Allan Taylor, aged 31, a farmer, of Hedgehope. Eileen Taylor said that her husband was in bed some days before his death, but on that day he was up and about. Alexander Douglas McLean, a farm worker, formerly employed by Taylor, said he had missed a .22 rifle on May 15, the same day that Taylor disappeared. After a search he found Taylor’s body the next morning in some manuka scrub with the rifle beside it. Death had apparently occurred some hours previously. Taylor had a bullet wound through his forehead. The Coronex’ found that Taylor died at Hedgehope on or about May 15, 1940, Die cause of death being suicide by shooting.