A SUDDEN DEATH.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 870, 21 April 1903, Page 3

A SUDDEN DEATH.

A very sudden death occurred yesterday morning near To Arid. Alexander Campbell, a well known and respected resident of ihe district, falling from his horse and expiring immediately. Ho left the Muriwai Hotel shortly after five in the morning, and overtook two young men, Fitzgerald Whitley and Samuel Parker, who hud also stayed at tho hotel the previous night. They wore all travelling to Gisborne. At Mr Campbell’s suggestion they put their horses into a canter, but ho soon dropped behind, and on looking round they saw that ho had brought his horse to a walking pace. Suddenly be foil from the saddle to the road. They hurried to his side, and he died in their arms.

An inquest was held last evening at tho British Empire Hotel to enquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Alexander Campbell, who fell deud off his Liorsu on the Murawai side of Tu Aral ye sterday morning. The inquest was held before Mr Barton, S.AI., and the following jury:— •Messrs F. Harris (foreman), T. McConnell, G. F. Henderson, F. Rice, F. Stevenson, mid T. Gutter. Sergeant Suidolls and Cuilstublo Crawford represented the police. John Campbell, son or tho deceased, de- - posed that hu lust saw his father alive on Wednesday, when he was in good health, and left Gisborne to go to Nutiuka. Fitzgerald Fordo Whitley, a laborer at TangUiuu, stated he was staying at the Miuawai Hotel last evening when lie saw the deceased, who was apparently in good health. Deceased was perfectly sober. Witness saw him again that day at -I.oU u.tu. About live that morning witness ami Ins nude (Samuel Furk’or) left the Murewai Hjtci to go towards Gisborne, and had gone lor about a mile when they were overtaken by deceased. The three rode on towards To Aral, and at about a mile from To Aral they were canteiyug along. Witness and Darker- were in front. They heard a cry and pulled up. On looking round iiesuw deceased fall from his horse. The horse was walking when deceased fell. Witness and Parker at once went to his assistance. They spoke to him, but got no reply. They picked him up tu carry him oil’ the road. Ho died in their arms. Witness at once sent information to the police.

Hr Williams stated that he had made an examination of the body in the morgue, and found that deceased died of advanced heart disease. There was a pleurisy of the right lung, but ii bad nothing to do with tin! death of deceased.

The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict according u the doctor’s evidence, that deceased hail died of heart disease.