DEATH FROM EXPOSURE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2565, 7 October 1893, Page 3

DEATH FROM EXPOSURE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—As you are always so willing to have your paper used as a means for discussing any matter of iutereat, I beg of you to allow me space for a few remarks touching the death of Mr W. Bell, who perished in a Bmall stream near Winchester. Ido wish to make the matter Prohibition v Strong Drink, but the evidence of the witnesses seems so contradictory, and I may say almost so amusing, that I oannot refrain from venting my feelings on the subject. Miss Bell in her evidence, stated her father left home at 11.30 on Friday for Winchester. He was then the worse for drink. Mr Mcintosh, the licensee of the Winchester Hotel, saw him an hour or an hour and a-half later, and he then appeared quite sober. Here seems to be flat contradiction. Sir William Blunden, medical practitioner was of opinion death resulted from failure of the heart's action, brought on by exhaustion through want of food, together with exposure to the weather and want of clothing. Falling into the water would have precipitated matters and caused cerebral congestion, from which insensibility would result, and a sober man if exhausted would suffer similarly. The above would lead one to conclude that death resulted from failure of the heart's action, and cerebral congestion. If the deceased was in such a weak state 1 should have thought he would have staggered through weakness, yet another witness says he saw him at a distance of from 15 to 20 chains, and he was not staggering then. When found he was alongside a small bridge, the upper part of his body out of water, and clutching some grass on the bank with his hands. I fail to see how he could be in that position if death resulted from the first of the above causes. The atitude is that of a helpless man trying to got out of the water. It is well known here that strong drink was the cause of exposure to the weather, and want of food and clothing and this being the case, I am at a loss to understand how a rider to that effect was not brought in. Verdicts in cases of this kind appear to me very much like inscriptions on tombstones where " Rest in peace " etc., is written on the headstones of men who have died shattered wrecks, the victims of stronk drink. Thanking you for the space allowed,—l am, etc., Perplexed.