DEATH IN A POLICE CELL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 228, 1 November 1909, Page 4

DEATH IN A POLICE CELL.

The l'atea l'ress reports that a man named James Md'herson Gardiner was arrested by Nonstable Armour on Tuesday evening last. Although in a somewhat unbalanced state Gardiner was in no way Violent, and he was placed in cell at tlie police station. Later on in the day lie was examined by Dr, Simmons, and on Wednesday, alter a joint examination by Dr. Harvey, of Waverley, and Dr. Simmons, it was decided to commit Gardiner to a lunatic asylum. On Wednesday eveniug, however, Constable Armour, on visiting the cell St half-past ten, found that Gardiner was dead. Gardiner was a mai of respectable appearance, clean in his' person, and was thirty-six years of age. While in the cell he displayed no trace of either homicidal or suicidal tendency. He ran about at times and was possessed of delusious, but attempted no violence either to himself or his surroundings. When found dead he was lying in bed partly undressed, and in a comfortable attitude. Gardiner was a hotel porter by occupation, thought to have relatives living in Otago. ■ At the inquest held subsequently, the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, that James McPherson Gardiner died of heart failure, brought on by excessive drinking. A rider was added stating that members of the jury were satisfied that everything possible under the circumstances had been done by the police to provide for the safety and comfort of the deceased.