INQUESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1933, Page 2

INQUESTS

SOUTH WESTLAND FATALITY An inquest was held at Karangarua, on Sunday last before Mr Hubert Ritchie, acting coroner, and a jury consisting of E. 11. Wilson, W. Russell, James Conradson, and Walter Scott, touching the death of Mark Te Koeti. Evidence was given by Desmond J. Cadigan, a laboure r residing at Welieka. He knew the deceased, Mark Te Koeti. Was speaking to him last about 10.30 a.m. on Friday, the 20tli. He was in usual good spirits. He was driving a horse and gig. He was wearing gum boots big military overcoat and usual clothes. In the cart lie had a load of about ten empty cases. Witness passed the remark, “You might not get over Cook’s.” Deceased said if he did get over Cook’s and the Creeks are high, he would leave the trap and ride the horse. Deceased then left. The last witness saw of him he was nearly across Cook’s river, and then was obscured with fog. He was sitting on

the seat between the boxes. Thomas Andrew Rochford gave evidence that he was a roadman residing at Bruce Bay. It is part of his duties to clean the creeks after every flood. On Saturday morning, October 21, lie went, tipi to Saltwater Creek about 9 o'clock. Saw a horse and gig standing on the river bed. There was no one in attendance. Recognised the gig ns one driven by Mark Te Koeti; to whom he had spoken at Karangarua the previous ‘day. The horse and gig had not crossed the last ford. Could see the horse had been standing there some time. Called and whistled and then went down the creek for half a j mile or more, hut saw no sign of de-

censed. There were empty boxes among the drift wood which he assumed had come from the gig. Returned to Karangarua and advised Mrs Scott to phone the police. Formed on e of the search parties which left soon afterwards. Was with James McGuire when the body of Mark Te Koeti was found. It was partly covered with silt, and was caught in a totara stump in the bed of the creek. This was about a mile down stream from where the horse and gig had "been standing. Identify' the body as that of -Mark

Te Ivoeti of. Bruce Bay. James Patrick McGOire, a labourer residing at Karangaroa gave evidence that he formed one of the search party. He found the body under a stump partly covered with silt, lying face downwards. Could see by the drift wood and general appearance of the creek that there had been a big flood. It had rained heavily the day: previous and all local creeks and. rivers were in flood. Knew that deceased was carting whitebait from his home at Bruce Bay to Weheka, and would have to cross this’ creek both coming and going. Know that deceased had considerable experience in crossing rivers and creeks. Know that deceased had a partial paralysis of his left hand and leg. The jury returned a verdict that Mark Te Ivoeti was accidentally drowned on October 20, 1933, while crossing Saltwater Creek which was in flood at the time, and that no blame was attachable to anyone. !

GREY BOXING FATALITY. At Greymouth yesterday the following medical evidence was given a.t the inquest on Albert Sydney Lowe. Dr F. 0. Bennett stated that he was present at the contest, during the twelfth round. The boxers seemed to be of equal ability, health and strength in that round, until near the j end, when just before Lowe received | two or three final blows, he seemed )to be dazed, and unable to maintain his guard. One of the last blows landed over Lowe’s heart, and he very suddenly collapsed, sinking to his hands and knees, and lying on his right side. Witness was called to attend him, a few minutes later. He was then deeply unconscious, and suffering from shock. His respirations had practically stopped, and his heart was barely pulsating.

(Artificial' respiration was applied by Dr Wilkinson, while witness injected heart stimulants. Lowe rallied slightly, and after about 15 minutes, he began twitching in the right arm and leg. He showed other signs which proved him to be suffering from pressure on the brain. It was concluded that be was suffering from cerebral haemorrhage, and he was transferred to the hospital by the ambulance. An operation to relieve the pressure was performed by Dr Moore about 2 a.m. on Sunday. As soon as the pressure was relieved, and during the operation, Lowe’s condition improved tremendously. He continued through- I out Sunday in a practically unchanged condition, but on Monday afternoon at 5.15 o’clock he suddenly collapsed and

•died. A post mortem was held this morning, at which witness was present. Examination of the brain disclosed o( haemorrhage of moderate dimensions on the left side of the middle fossa of the skull. Scattered throughout the brain substance were minute haemorrhages. There was slight generalised oedema of the whole of the brain substance. There was no obvious rupture of any vessel, or fracture of any bone. Nothing else of note was found. The cause of death was somewhat a, matter of opinion.

Witness ascribed it to the combined effects of cerebral haemorrhage, cerebral concussion, and cerebral oedema. The condition, was probably caused by the stress and strain of the whole contest, and was probably the result of extreme- physical exertion. Witness did not third: that one blow before the

collapse was responsible, but that the collapse was the result of a condition previously existing during the contest, for perhaps half a n hour. Witness did not think that Lowe’s sleepiness on the train had any bearing on his collapse. The sleepiness might be due to the long journey from Dunedin, and the rarefied atmosphere encountered on route to the West Coast.