CORONER'S INQUEST.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 April 1918, Page 4

CORONER'S INQUEST.

ROBERT HOWIE, MATAROA. Mr. J. P. Aldridge, Coroner, held an inquest yesterday, at Mataroa, on the body of an elderly man, named Robert Hov.io, who was found dead i:i his bed at O'Connor's boarding house Evidence was given by Mr. and Mrs. M. J. O'Connor to the effect that the deceased was in his usual state of health on the previous evening, when he begged to be allowed to sleep m the house —he had previously slept in an outbuilding—only that he was much under the influence of liquor. The next morning it was believed Howie was sleeping, and no attempt to arouse him was made till about 10 a.m., when it was found that he was dead., .-.,_' viv>< .-r'-

James Cloud stated that he- slept in the ;'same, room ,as, deceased,, who came tn while (Cloud) was,-,asleep. Deceased woke him. and persisted in talking, and as, Howie would not go off; his bed, he got out, and r .slept .in Howie's bed. He .afterwards heard Howie snoring.- When he got up In the morning he thought Howie, wag still sleeping. He did not know that Howie was dead till told later in the day. When deceased.came in to ber he was under, the. influence of liquor. He did not know where the , liquor came from. , ..: .. , Mrs. O'Connor stated.that, deceased was about 73 years of a£©« The verdict was that Robert Howie died from natural causes.