DEATH OF A SOLDIER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 88, 7 January 1918, Page 6

DEATH OF A SOLDIER

ADJOURNED INQUEST. The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Private Charles M'Roberts, Trentham Details, who was found dead in bed at the Red Light Boardinghouse, 42 Ghuznee Street, on Monday, was held by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., on Saturday morning. Donald M'Donald, proprietor of the Red Light Boardinghouse, stated that M'Roberts came, to his place on Sunday and engaged a bed. He was sober at' the time, but complained of not having had anything to eat for a week. John M'Dou'nnll, a fireman, who ocounied the same room as M'Roberts, said he was at the boardinghouso on the Sunday when M'Roberts came there. The latter wns quite sober, and went-to bed about 10 p.m. About 5 o'clock on Monday morning Vltness heard M'Rolvrts cough, and later _re heard a gurgline sound. Witness immediatelv iunmed out of bed and vent over to M'Roberts to see what was the matter. The man was then apparently dead. Ho reported tho matter to the proprietor. John Blanchet, si wharf lnnouer, said he had known M'Roberts for some years. He was a sin.de man, a labourer by occupation, and was hi'i'il in Willinmstown. Victoria. Fn Hα no relatives in New Zealand. Hβ was addicted to ltniior, but when witness lost sow him, which was some time before his death, ho wns in his normal state of health. Witness did not know timt, M'Roberts was staying at the Red I-itrht Boimlmrrhmiso. hut on rending the reoort of his death in the newspaper he went round to the morgue nn'l identified the body. Tlie Coronor, after reviewing the nvidenco. returned n vordint that i:?ath was due to heart failure.