DEATH IN HOTEL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 890, 6 February 1930, Page 1

DEATH IN HOTEL

MAN WANTED BY POLICE

DETECTIVES EVIDENCE

Warrants were out for the man from Wellington and Dunedin, and there was a suggestion that offences had been committed at Gisborne and in Auckland, according to Detective J. A. Moon, who gave evidence at an inquest concerning the death of John Walker this morning. Walker collapsed and died suddenly yesterdar wliile being interviewed by Detective Moon and Constable Bowman, iu bis room at a City hotel. Evidence of identification was to the effect that the man was 41 years of age. He had been a lieutenant iu the Taranaki Regiment during the war. It was not certain whether he was married or what his occupation was. He was believed to have no regular abode. A complaint that Walker had issued a valueless cheque in Auckland on February 1 had led to the interview, according to Detective Moon. Walker was wanted on warrants from Wellington and Dunedin. He also had to be interviewed concerning alleged offences at Gisborne. Witness and Constable Bowman had gone to a City hotel shortly after 11 yesterday morning, when they found Walker in liis room, clad in pyjamas. After putting on shirt and trousers, he had reached for his socks, and then commenced to breathe heavily, immediately collapsing. Witness had placed him on the bed, and, a 3 the man appeared to rally, went out and called Dr P. Moir. The doctor, who arrived at 11.50, gave it as his opinion that Walker should be removed to hospital. When he returned after calling an ambulance the detective found that the man was dead. “We found a quantity of pow der on a table in the room,’’ added the detective. “Walker did not touch it while we were in the room, but it has been submitted to the Government Analyst.” The detective’s statement was corroborated by Constable Bowman, who added that alker had died at noon, while Detective Moon was out calling the ambulance. Nothing, in the opinion of Dr. Peter Moir, could have been done to save Walker’s life. Witness had found him dying and in a state of coma. The inquest was temporarily adjourned pending the arrival of the doctor's report on the post-mortem which the coroner had ordered.