OHINGAITI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 249, 21 October 1936, Page 3

OHINGAITI

CORONER’S INQUEST The district coroner, Mr. E. Loader, Taihape, held an inquest into the I death of Richard Russell on Monday afternoon at 5.30 p.m. Constables ■ Scannell (Hunterville) and Davis (Mangaweka) were also in attendance. The first witness called was Dr. L. M. Burnett (Hunterville) who gave evidence that he received a call at 1 p.m. on Sunday asking him to go to the Royal Hotel, Ohingaiti, where a man had been found dead. He advised Constable Scannell, who accompanied him. He arrived at Ohingaiti al 2 p.m. and found the deceased lying in the concrete yard of the hotel. He was quite dead. A thorough examination of the body was made and no marks of any description which might point to foul play were discovered. He had last attended deceased on June 6 and found him suffering from a haemorrhage in the right eye. He made an examination and found blood pressure to be much above normal. He would consider at that time that deceased was not a good life risk. Dr. Burnett said he was of the opinion that deceased died from cerebal haemorrhage following upon arterial degeneration. He would not say that drink was the immediate cause of death. To the Coroner: People who never drink may have arterial degeneration. Mr. L. S. Duffy, exchange ’clerk, Ohingaiti, residing at the Royal Hotel, gave evidence that he had known deceased for 14 months and knew that he had been staying at the hotel for the past six weeks. At 12.55 p.m. on Sunday he visited deceased in his room at the rear of the hotel and found him lying on his bed. Mr. Russell complained of feeling ill and said he was cold. Witness covered him with blankets and asked if he wanted any dinner. Mr. Russell said he did not feel up to having dinner and Mr. Duffy returned to the house and commenced his dinner. Ten minutes later he heard a cry and went outside and found deceased lying on his back on the concrete. His face had gone dark and there was no heart beat. He called Mr. Lindsay and informed Dr. Burnett. He would say that deceased was sober when he saw him in bed. Witness said that Mr. Russell had had a bad turn in February last and when discovered was unconscious. Witness helped him to bed. He could not say that deceased was sober on that occasion. To Coroner: He did not see Mr. Russell on Saturday night nor earlier on Sunday. To Constable Davies: Deceased’s room was downstairs and had he been coming into the hotel he would have to cross the yard where he was found. Mr. David Lindsay, licensee of the Royal Hotel, said that he knew Mr. Russell very well. He stayed at the hotel periodically during the last six years and on this occasion had stayed six weeks. Deceased had travelled a good deal both in New Zealand and Australia. He understood that there were relatives in Christchurch and that deceased owned property. Mr. Russell was about the hotel on Sunday morning auri had a few drinks.

He showed no signs of illness and was in very good spirits. He last saw deceased alive at about 12.20 p.m. and was called downstairs by Mr. Duffy at 1.15 p.m. when he found deceased lying dead. He thought he had had a fit as he had heard of him having one previously. Deceased had periodical drinking bouts but was sober on the Sunday of his death. He knew of no quarrel with anyone in the hotel and was sure that deceased had not been struck or knocked down. He had never known deceased to suffer from delirium tremens while at the hotel and he had not been drinking heavily during the past week. To the Coroner: He was more a friend than a customer and was most inoffensive and harmless.

| William Cole, saddler, gave evidence that he had known deceased I for 20 years. He used to see him 1 almost daily when in town and last ! saw him alive at 9.15 a.m. on Sunday j morning when Mr. Russell had I walked with him to Mr. Coles’ gate. ! Deceased was sober and made no I complaint of ill-health. He was sure he had no enemies. I The coroner found that deceased died .rom cerebral haemorrhage, there being no suspicious circumstance and no blame was attachable to the management of the hotel. Death was [from natural causes.