BLAKETOWN FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1928, Page 2

BLAKETOWN FATALITY

THE IX()UEST VERPICT. An inquest on the late Donald Lament Hill, who met his death at Ids' residence, Klaketown, was conducted before the Coroner, Air \\T. Aleldrum, at the Magistrate’s Court, Greymouth. Senior-Sergeant Roach represented the police. Dr James Wilson Alcßrearty, medical practitioner, of Greymouth, gave evidence as follows,—On Friday the 30th Alnreb, at midnight, J. received a call to Air II ill’s. residence, BlaTiotown. On arrival T was shown to the sitting room, Hill being on the sofa. On examination J found life was extinct. Also that the left eye was injured. I asked the son what had taken place. He told me lie had brought his father home the worse of liquor. The son went into the mother’s bedroom, the father entering the room, staggered, tripped and in falling the electric cord was broken, and on switching it on again the father was found half on the bed and half on the floor. Tt was thought that Hill had hit his head on the bedpost. On Sunday morning I made a post mortem examination. Externally there, wore no signs of injury beyond the black eye already referred to. On Internal examination, file brain was healthy, and no signs of any fracture. On examination, chest was normal. The abdomen, and stomach were greatly inflamed. This I attribute to have been the cause of death. namely, acute dilitation of stomach, which embarrassed the heart, causing syncope. The other abdominal organs were healtliv.

Thomas Hill, miner, employed at Dobson, a son of deceased, said that at :shout 10.30 on Friday evening, 30th Alarch, he took his father home. His father was drunk. He and his lather went into his mother’s bedroom. He remarked to Ills mot Tier

I hat lie v a,, not going to send money home if liis father was going to keep on drinking. His father did not take kindly to the remark, and raised his hand to hit witness, hut lie struck the electric light cord, which reached from the ceiling in the bedroom The light was extinguished, and his father evidently fell against t!ie bedpost. When tho light was reinstated his father was found lying across his mother's bed. He was unconscious, and was carried out to the sitting room. The doctor who was sent lor arrived at 11 p.m., and stated liis father was dead. There were no blows struck other than the father’s.

Min. Hughes, miner employed at the State .Mine, said he resided at the late Duncan Hill’s. He went into the kitchen on the Friday night when deceased and his son came home. After they were inside a few minuted the gill Greta came out and told him tile father was going to bit Tom. He immediately went to the bedroom. The light was out. He reinstated the light, and saw deceased lying across Mrs Hill’s bed. He was unconscious. M’itness carried him into the sitting room. M'hen the doctor arrived he pronounced life exlinot. M’hen witness went into the bedroom Thos. Hill said his father made an attempt to strike him, but struck the electric light cord, and didn’t know what happened after that. Thos. Hill also stated that his father must have hit his head on the bedpost. The Coroner delivered his verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, that deceased. Duncan Lamont Hill, met his death through acute irritation of the heart.