HIS LAST " BUST."

NZ Truth, Issue 144, 21 March 1908, Page 5

HIS LAST " BUST."

HOW OLD MAN McCLELLAN DIED.

Brainless Porters Neglect Dying Man.

Magistrate and Coroner W. P. James, of MastertOn, appears to have his head screwed on right, and to be capable of getting down to bedrock when dealing with cases of doubtful character. On Saturday last, Ms Worship had the task of sifting the wheat from the chaff at an inquest, and accomplished the task to some purpose. It was reported to Sergeant Miller, of Mastertbn, that ah old man, who had been under medical treatment, had been discovered dead on the floor of his bedroom m Cooper's Swankery. The Sergeant who, like all old stage cops, has an eye for business, was doubtful about holding an inquest, but when Cop. Townsend lined up about 9.15 a.m. with a huge drunk, developments occurred which dispelled aM doubts .as to tho necessity for an enquiry, and the Sergeant wore a No. 10 smile. Frederick S. Cooper, licensee of the Central Swankey Emporium, described how the subject of the inquest, named Alexander McClellan, 67 years of age, and a shepherd by! occupation, had arrived at the hotel some ten days previously and had complained of pains m his little Mary.. The old battler ; INDULGED IN OCCASIONAL DRINKS, but on thj& second day Frederick prevented him from partaking of anything but a little stout. The licensee alsoj wanted the old boy to go to the hospital, but the old battler did not take to the suggestion, and subsequently the old. man wa;s .sent m charge of a coot named Vauglian to Dr. Cowiej . Next, morning Mr Cooper was called by the' housemaid to look at deceased, and 'found him lying on the floor dead. George Groorhbridge, apparently a George Washington, stated that Cooper had instructed him not to supply the old shepherd With strong, drink, so only dished him up milk and soda with a little hen fruit occasionally. Dr. James Cowic, however, ' stated that the shepherd had been drinking when he called at his house. He found deceased suffering pains m. the little Mary, and as he appeared to be m a state of collapse, suggested that the old fellow should go to. the hospital, but he demurred, saying he preferred to stay at the hotel. The man Vaughan, who accompanied deceased, said that he could receive proper attention at the hotel. The doctor told Vaughan, the old man must go to bed, and if he became- worse he would attend as soon as called. Tho medico subsequently made a post mortem examination and found the stom'aeh almost empty, though there was a strong odour of .alcohol about, and Ms ' opinion : was.- ,i that death was due to collapse caused by want of food, assisted ,by the excessive con--suniipifcion of liquor. The doctor further said that had he known deceased would notf have . received proper attention lie "would have insisted on him going to the hospital. ' Philip Vaughan Sfiid that Dr. Cowie instructed him to give the old fellow j Ms mcd'icim! three times daily and to send for -him -if- deceased got worse. Vaug-hait said. i\e forgot to tell Mrs I Cooper, wrle of the licensee, of what the doc-tor k,:k(.. "Vkuajhan was kind I enough to «;ive the old man one dose! of medicine j AND THEN LEFT HIM;, . | if fie required any more, to get out of bed and cross the floor to the table for it; . . Alexander Bell, night porter at- the. hotel m question, said .deceased appeared m delicate health, and had j been drinki-ng. He had not known tho all f'now had Icon to fcuU doctor He heard some groaning m the old man's room and went m to sec what was the matter. This was three o'clock on Saturday morning. He found deceased tossing about on the bed with his knees drawn up. The old chap did not reply when asked "What's up," so Alexander thought he had the D.T.s and left him* *- Duncan McDiaimid, a drover, did not .remember going to bed at the Swankery, but -on waking up at six o'clock found deceased on, the floor. \Examdned him and found him dead. Then he rushed ,oR. Replying to Coroner James, Duncan said, "I was never so frightened m all my life. He was dead and stiff' as. a poker. I left the room quick and lively, and so would you if you were m my position. I never told a soul. I passed Mr Cooper on the stairs, but had not time to speak to him as I was m too great a hurry to clear but. I was comparatively sober at the time, but wa;s locked up soon afterwards, buti ; what for I don't know" Coroner James then delivered some sound sense. He said it did 'not appeal- that deceased had received any treatment ' whatever. Vaughan had' neglected to tell Mrs Cooper of the doctor's instructions, and his neglect APPEARED TO BE CULPABLE. He had contentved himself with giving the old Irian one dose of medicine and l then leaving him to his own resources. The witness Bell was equally blameworthy. He had heard the old man groaning and had taken no notice of him,' but explained that he thought the ofd man had got x the D.T.s and did not require attention. That statement only served to aggravate the case. 'If the witness McDiarmUd was to be believed it revealed a very lamentable state of affairs^ It appeared most extraordinary that a man could enter . an hotel, and go up into a sick man's bedroom without any question being asked. It did reflect credit on the house. The jury found that deceased died from collapse.' and expressed the opinion that Vaughan should have informiecl the licensee of the doctor's instructions. .