INQUEST ON B. DEELEY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 140, 11 December 1930, Page 14

INQUEST ON B. DEELEY

ACCIDENTAL DEATH

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, 10th December. A verdict of accidental death was returned by-Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., coroner, at the adjourned inquest concerning the death of Benjamin Kinsman Deeley, aged •fS, the well-kuown jockey, on -Ith December. William Murdoch: Murray, chemist, said that at about; 4.30 p.m. on 3rd December he was informed that a man was lying on a stairway landing in St. Kevin's Arcade, Karangahape road. On going there witness recognised the deceased, who had a shop in the Arcade. As lie was unconscious, witness carried him into his shop. When 'he regained consciousness, however, he refused.to lie. quiet and later left the shop to go to his. home. Continuing, witness said he saw the deceased walking unsteadily along the footpath. In witness's opinion the deceased fell down about eight steps before he hit the landing. At each step there were marks of blood -which came from the back of deceased's hands, showing that he fell backward.' Ruby Paterson, the deceased's housekeeper, said the deceased appeared all right when he came home at about 5.30 p.m., although he was quieter than usual.

Early on the following morning witness whs awakened by the soimd of a bump, and on making investigations found that I the deceased had fallen out of bed. He I was lying unconscious on the floor and the doctors who were summoned ordered his removal to hospital, where he died. .Dr. lUaiu said, a post-mortem exarniuatiou disclosed an extensive fracture of the skull with a large intercranial haemmorrhage. This, with the accompanying brain damage, was the cause of death. In returning his verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, the Coroner said he was satisfied that death was accidental. ■ .