SUDDEN DEATH IN PONSONBY ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 86, 19 April 1870, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH IN PONSONBY ROAD.

INQUEST.—THIS DAY,

We have to chronicle another of those sudden deaths, the prevalence of which have been so remarkable of late. In the present instance wo are unable to give the name of the deceased, but probably the full particulars will come out at the inquest, which is being held as we go to press, at the Suffolk Hotel, Collegestreet. It appears that Mr. Michael Doyle and a lad named John Molloy —the latter in the employ of Mr. Slater, butcher, of Freeman's Bay-—were passing along the College road about ten o'clock yesterday morning, when they observed a man lying on the footpath, apparently suffering from a very serious illness. They at once removed him from the heat of the sun to the shade of the palings which bound the ground known as St. Mary's, and close to a house owned by Mr. Darby. In a very few minutes afterwards the man crouched upon his hands and knees, and was so found by two ladiei.—in the absence of the man an d the boy before-mentioned, who, thinking that he was perhaps faint and weary from the heat, had gone to obtain some assistance. The ladies, nttracted by tli9 peculiar position of the man went over to him, when they at once saw that he was to all appearance dying. They immediatelvsent for Mr. Bree, the minister who lives close by, and that gentleman was soon in attendance, together with Dr. Baynton; but before they had arrived the man had expired. The police were then communicated with, and Sergeant McCafferty proceeded to the spot, with Constable Clarke, and had the body removed. A search of the pockets of deceased did not lead to his identity. He was, to all appearance, about fifty-six years of age, and appeared as though he had been used to a seafaring life. It is thought that he belonged to one of the whalers which occasionally call at Mongonui, that he was probably-a deserter, and that the journey from the By of Islands may have exhausted him, and so led to his sudden death. The inquest commenced at two o'clock, and will not be concluded in time for this day's issue.