THE DISTRESSING CASE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 508, 15 May 1909, Page 13

THE DISTRESSING CASE.

■ Sir,—After'reading the various "letters to tho Editor,,; which liave appeared in The Dominion, one is almost inclined to.believe tho people of I'almerston North, or at least some of . thorn, to be the most heart-loss people in the whole of New Zealand. . Somo people are privileged to growl, others to find fault, neither, of which are. usually in tho forefront of. any project to remedy such existing evils,' as tlio case of the unfortunate mnn. Charles Hood. This nian, who was a suflorer from asthma, homeless, and jjenuilcss, oonm to tho police .and oaicd' to.

bo taken, care of, which the poliie did by finding him a place of shelter and warm nourishment. There being no homes for such cases in the town, or for that matter in "Uod's Own Country," the only thing the Magistrate could do was to convict as a vagrant in order to get him sent to where he would bo taken care of, which was the most humane thing to do with tho poor, unfortimato being. "Humane" seems to wonder why the police were instructed to "watch the deceased, and to 'keif) his head elevated." If' ho knew anything about asthma and its distressing effects, ho would not require to ask' why these instructions woro given. It does not follow that a person with a bad attack of asthma is in a . sense seriously ill. ; Tho J.P., Mr. P. Mowlem, did the right thing, and certainly the most humano under the circumstances. As to why the Coroner did hot have a jury, tho law of the land is, and rightly so, if the Coroner is satisfied that a death'resulta.-from natural causes, the country is itot to "be put to the unhecessary expense' of'a: jury.''. This was only supposed to bo a case of acute asthma, . and when the, police suggested to Hood that n doctor.be called, he refused to have one. The immediato »cause of death would seem to be heart failure, " a : thing which is beyond the power of man to remedy. "Humanitarian" complains that'the pulpit "and tho : press have been silent on the matter. Thepulpit and the press endeavour to do what they can,, but when such cases "are not' known, how can they' act, asi in the case of this poor man, Hood.' It is pleasing to see that "Citizen" says that' he is ready 'to help to remove the causes of such end cases. One .is inclined to say, "Well done 'Citizen,' " you nave a big contract on hand, and if you will only, take '.'Humanitarian", by the one hand and "Human" with the other, and start out on a real humane errand,, you will find plenty to do. In cases of need, some of the heartless ones you denounce may be the most ready to help.' —I am, etc., SYMPATHY. " May 10.