CORONER’S FINDING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 40, 15 January 1938, Page 11

CORONER’S FINDING.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. Per Press Association. . WELLINGTON, Jan. 14. A verdict that deceased died at Wellington at a boarding house in Pipitea Street on December 23 from head injuries sustained from falling on to a hard surface during a drunken brawl op the previous night was returned by the Coroner (Mr Gilbertsen), at the inquest to-day on Francis Ryan, aged 27, a storeman. Mr Gilbertson referred to the fact that Ryan was stated to have had an übusually thin skull and said a similar fall might have proved harmloss to a person with a normal skull. George Black, a resident at the boarding house, described the events leading up to a struggle between Ryan and Roy Patrick Frost. Deceased rushed at Frost outside the house and they both fell over a low concrete wall. Ho separated the two men and they mixed it again. Ho intervened and then stood over by the wall. While he was there Mrs Ryan was between him and the contestants. At this stage deceased fell on the concrete and witness heard two distinct thuds.,

Frost and Mrs Ryan both gave evidence. Deceased, she said, did not appear to fall as the result of a blow.