TRAGIC OCCURRENCE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14840, 4 December 1913, Page 7

TRAGIC OCCURRENCE.

FEDERAL MEMBER DROPS DEAD .'AFTER SCENE IN HOUSE.

, v ;A BLOW TO LABOUR. IBy C»W--Press Aa.ociatiosu-Oopyrithi) MSUBGURNE, Pacamber 3. Mr E, A* I. Roberts, member of the Federal House*of Representatives for * t Adelaide, dropped dead in the precincts the House yesterday afternoon, after . ""participating in a debat*. Mr Roberts for many years suffered from heart trouble. Hia death was tragic. Jost prior to it be bad been «_- ---igftged in a wrangle with the Chairman of Committees, who threatened, because of an interjection, that if Mr Roberts continued his attitude of insolence toV sfards the Chair be would havo to deal with him. . Mr Roberts, getting hia bat and •tick, was proceeding along the Queen's •. Hall, whan be tattered and fell, clufching the base of tbe statue of Queen Victoria. _-'.'' ..:,?;?- ; * J Drs. Maloney and CHara came to bis assistance, but pronounced life extinct. In the Hoiisa, when tbo news came WjMr Cook and Mr Fisher paid tributes to the deceased. The House passed a motion j-eoog-_ntaag bis servioes, and expressing •empathy with the widow and family, sod then adjourned till Thursday. Mr Roberts's death is a severe blow to the Labour Partj, of which he was d«S 0 nf ni member, especially as it ««dy follows that of Mr Eraser.