Inquest at Otaki

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 November 1913, Page 2

Inquest at Otaki

On .Saturday Mr \V. C. Nation, Coroner, held an inquest into the cause of the death of Charles Lewis Barrow, a man i>7 years of age, a native of Taranaki, who in the past had been in business as a saddler in Otaki. Mrs Alice Barrow, wife of the deceased, said her husband had. been ailing for three mouths past, and since Monday had eomplained of lightness in the chest. Dr. Huthwaite attended him live weeks since for a pain in his side. On '.Friday morning he appeared da/.ed and was light-headed. She gave him an egg in milk, and Ihen he walked round the house. At about 7 o'clock he entered the front door and went into the bedroom and lay down ; she put her arm under his head, and after u little while he gave a feeble gasp and expired. When Dr. Huthwaite came he could do nothing as life was extinct. Her husband had been a heavy drinker, and quiie neglected his business. Dr. Huthwaite said deceased had no organic disease, but he had complained of a pain in the side. He was a heavy drinker, and his heart was slightly weak. From the symptoms witness eoneluded that death was due to heart failure. Constable Satherley said he had known deceased for five years, and he drank heavily. A prohibition order was of no avail to keep him from alcoholic liquor. Witness bod spoken to deceased repeatedly, but he would not promise to give up the drink. The last time he spoke deceased said he was "done." The Coroner returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes, accelerated by alcoholic poisoning." g