NATURAL CAUSES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19164, 22 November 1927, Page 3

NATURAL CAUSES.

♦ REMANDED MAN'S DEATH. Tho inquest into the death of Andrew Conlon, aged 57 years, was opened before the Coroner (Mr H. P. Lawry) yesterday. Conlon was arrested last Friday for drunkenness, and was remanded for medical treatment. He died in the Christchiirch Hospital 011 Sunday. It was stated in evidence that he had no relatives in New Zealand. Constable E. Shanley stated that at 7 p.m., on November 12th, he had arrested Conlon in Hereford street. He was then drunk, and was lying in the gutter. Witness picked him up, and he was unable to stand. He had two black eyes, and his lips were swollen as though he had received a blow in the mnuth. There were no marks on the keibing to indicate that his injuries had been received there. Witness had identified the .body. Constable Meyers stated that lie had been on duty in the watch house on October 28th, when Conlon had been brought in on a charge of drunkenness. On the night of November 12th, prior to his coming on duty, Conlon had been in the lock-up. His right eye was swollen. The left eye was also discoloured. His lips were swollen, and there was blood on his tongue. On asking him how he felt, he replied: '"I will be all right." Witness covered him with blankets. Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, stated that he had conducted a post-mortem examination. The body showed superficial injuries and extensive bruises on all scalp tissues. There was an operation wound behind the left ear. Death was due to oedema of the brain, set up by extensive arterial degeneration, asociated with chronic _ Bright's disease. There was no injury to the brain. He did not consider that the bruises on his face had anything to do with his death. The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.