BODY ON ROAD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 57, 23 July 1947, Page 5

BODY ON ROAD

MAORI’S DEATH ' ~ BUE-TO HEART FAILURE ■+ ' " A verdict that James Hagh Fisher died at Kutarere on May 11th, death being due to heart failure was returned by Mr €. S. Armstrong, at an inquest held yesterday. Mrs Waireka Fisher, widow of deceased, was represented by Mr Otley. Robert Biddle stated that he had been returning from Kutarere to his home at Wainui by car at about 10 p.m. on the night of May 11. On the road opposite deceased’s residence he had noticed a dark object which the car had run over. He drove on a little way then stopped and returned. He found deceased who appeared to be unocnscious. The Whakatane ambulance was telephoned and the man placed in witness’s car. Biddle drove towards Whakatane and met the ambulance. Deceased was conveyed to the Whakatane Hospital in the ambulance. Biddle’s car had good brakes and he had a warrant of fitness. Dr. Dawson said he had examined deceased at the Whakatane hospital and found him to be dead. The absence of blood indicated that Fisher had been dead when hit by the car. To Mr Otley the doctor stated that he could not estimate how long Fisher had been dead. No post mortem had been held to ascertain the condition of the heart.

William Manuel, a Maori labourer, also gave evidence. He had been at the tangi which deceased had attended on the day of his death. Deceased had left at about 6.30 and was quite sober. He should have been home long before 10 p.m.

After hearing the evidence the ■coroner returned a verdict as outlined above.