A SAD END

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 202, 5 December 1910, Page 8

A SAD END

FOUND DEAD IN THE POLICE CELLS. Constable Liston little thought, when he arrested a man named John George Wood on Friday nigiht, between 10 and II o'clock, that there would be such.a tragic tale to tell next morning, for the unfortunate man was found dead before the da-.vji. It transpires that Wood was seen staggering about the streets, presumably as the result of drink, but whether, as it now may be surmised, from 'the effects of the wound over one eye, slight as it appeared at the time, will no doubt be determined by the post mortem investigation since made by Dr. McClekind. Wood, at the time, informed Constable Liston that he was staying at the Imperial Hotel, but enquiries failed to bear out the statement, as the ■licensee (Mr. Little) and staff knew nothing of him. There was no alternative for the police but to look after him, and too was taken to the cells and attended in the ordinary course of their duties. He appeared to be in normal 'health and sleeping soundly, at 3 o'clock, when visited by Constable Whitehouse, but an hour later was found to have passed away. This was all the more extraordinary, as no indication whatever of illness was apparent either before or after death. On arrival, Dr. ilcCleland only found life extinct. Deceased was in the prime of life, being 36 years of age, and resided at Oakura, where ihe was a contractor. Much | sympathy is felt for the relatives of the I deceased, under the circumstances. An inquest will be 'held to-day.