SUDDEN DEATH.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 270, 10 January 1929, Page 5

SUDDEN DEATH.

AT HODDERVILLE FARM. # Due to Natural Causes. On Saturday, morning an inquest was conducted by Mr. J. W. Barr .Brown, district coroner, at the Salvation Army Boys’ Training Farm, near Putaruru, owing to the sudden death of one of the boys, Charles Walter Verdun Finlay, early that morning. Major Armstrong, manager of the training farm, said deceased had been an inmate of the home since May 2, 1928. He was apparently a healthy hoy. Witness last saw deceased on Friday afternoon at about 2.30 o’clock. At about 5 a.m. on Saturday Captain Buckingham reported that deceased was lying dead on the dormitory floor. At no time had the youth done any heavy lifting. Dr. Haslett said a post portem revealed that the body was that of a well-nourished boy and 'that there were no outward marks. On examining the heart he found evidence of peri carditis and valvular disease. In his opinion death was caused as the result of the condition of the heart. Horace Buckingham said he had charge of the boys when they were doing farm work. Deceased was out on the farm on the previous day, but he was not working, as his duties . Were mostly about the house. Witness did not see deceased again till he found him dead in the dormitory. He was lying on his right side in a huddled position on the floor and had been retching a fatty fluid. The body was not then cold but deceased appeared to be quite dead. There were a number of other boys in the dormitory but only one noticed anything -wrong. . Basil Cumming Thomson said he was the officer in charge of the boys’ sleeping apartments. At about 9 p.m. on the 4th was with the boys in the dormitory’ for a good while. Deceased, who had helped to tread the ensilage oh the previousFday, had ■not complained of being unwell. Deceased ate his tea on the 'previous "might and appeared tq be all right. He was of a quiet disposition and vggve no trouble. Frederick William Just, one of the "boys on the farm, said deceased slept in the same dormitory as witness did. During the night witness saw deceased get out of bed and try to be sick. Witness asked deceased what was the matter and he replied that V

he felt sick. Deceased then got back into bed and witness did not see him get. up again. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence.