SUDDEN DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1920, Page 4

SUDDEN DEATH.

A ST F.YIvDOR'E'S END. .EXPIRES IN AX HOTEL. A guest at the Criterion Hotel, Nen Plymouth, Charles Ernest Wahlers, died rather suddenly shortly after seven o'clock jeaterday morning. Wahlers, .who was married and < resident of Kilbirnie, Wellington, was a foreman stevedore in the employ ol tlannaway and Co., and came liy tbt mail irain on .Saturday' night to superintend the unloading of the West Camargo and the leading of v the Port Alma. Mo had been stopping at till hotel since Monday last, but had nevei complained of being ill till the morninj of his death. On Wednesday night hi ordered early breakfast, and l'cquestec to be called at six o'clock. The lessee saw him about seven, He was in hii room fully dressed, standing in of the mirror. !l!e Raid "right-oh" in' answer to a knock, and came down almost immediately after, He asked for a bottle of soda water, saying he had been very bad since Ave o'clock in the morning. Next time Wahlers was seen he was lying on the floor of the commercial room, this being about ten minutes later. Wahlers was riot dead] but unconscious. He was propped up in a chuir and resuscitation methods used, while medical assistance w#f called. When the doctor arrived, however, Walt lews had died, having never recovered consciousness. At an inquest held last night before the coroner (Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.), evidence on these lines was given by tha licensee (W. D. Graham), and Ernest •Scotland, partner in the firm employing Wahlers. Dr. Home said he was called to the hotel about 7.30, and on examining the man foiind life extinct. A post mortem had disclosed the cause of death to bt due to acute degeneration of the heart muscles. . 1 , <t The finding was in accordance With the medical evidence.