SUDDEN DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 22443, 14 September 1936, Page 10

SUDDEN DEATH

DUE TO HEART FAILURE That death was due to sudden heart failure was the verdict returned tins morning at the adjourned inquest relating to the death of Leonard Arthur Walker, a married man, aged 39 years .who resided at 532 Castle street, end who collapsed in an hotel bar on September 5 after attending a football match. Deceased had called for drinks, but before drinking his he took a seizure. _ Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., sat as coroner, and Sergeant Boultc conducted proceedings for the police. John Antony Walsh, a barman employed at the Grand Hotel, said that on September 5, at about 5.30 p.m., while in the bar of the hotel, another barman named Morrison drew his attention la a man lying on the floor of the bar. When witness got to the man, who was the deceased, other men in the bar had carried him. to a couch. Under the impression that deceased had fainted, witness ordered a brandy lor him, but he was unable to drink it. Witness loosened his clothing round his neck. His breathing was then very faint. On instructions he was taken into Mr Paape’s private office by the day porter and witness, and they placed him on the floor of the office with a cushion under his head. The police and a doctor were called, but deceased passed away before they arrived. Witness had not seen or known the deceased before having his attention drawn to him when he was lying on the bar floor. Neil Donaldson, a corporation employee, said that he met the deceased when travelling from the Glen road to the city on a tramcar. They travelled together and left the tramcar afl the Exchange, Walker then appearing sober and in good health. They went together into the public bar of the Grand Hotel, where Walker ordered two beers. Witness left the bar, and on his return found deceased lying on the floor surrounded by some men. They lifted him to a couch in the bar, and the licensee of the hotel (Mr.Paape) directed that deceased he removed to his private office. This was done, and the police and a doctor telephoned for. When Dr Fergus arrived he could only pronounce life extinct. Witness had known Walker for about 10 years, and at one time he was stopping with witness. During that time witness had not known him to suffer from any illness, and he always appeared to witness to be in the best of health. . ' Dr D’Ath, pathologist at the Medical School, gave evidence of conducting a post mortem examination, as a result of which he was of opinion that deceased died from sudden heart failure, the result of extensive damage to the heart muscle and valves by a previous attack of rheumatic fever. The Coroner said that Dr D’Ath’s examination cleared the matter up, and a verdict was returned, in accordance with the medical evidence.