SUDDEN DEATH AT KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2401, 29 November 1887, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH AT KIHIKIHI.

A vuiiY .sudden dentil occurred here on Fridiiy 251h. A nnm named Alexander E. Keith, lately working on the railway works, at the tunnel, was stopping at the Star Hotel, Kihikihi, till Friday, when he intended going up the line hy tho afternoon train. About 1 p.m. he was taken ill with inclination of the bowels, which ran its course so speedily that he died at 8 p.m. Dr Painnan was sent for by Mr Bond, the landlord, but he was from home. Mr and Mrs Bond were unremitting in their attention to the deceased, but their efforts were unavailing. Deceased was in fairly good health up to the time he was taken ill.

The Inquest

An inquest was held by Air tlrosham, coroner, on the body of the deceased ; the following wore enipaimelled as a jury ; Messrs A. Forbes—who was chosen as foreman— McJannett, Blencowe, Clark, Keenan, and Binton. Constable Jones watched the case on behalf of the police. William Bund, landlord of the StarHotcl, sworn, deposed that he knew deceased for about IS mouths. Deceased stated that at one time he was engaged in cruising among the .Smith Sea Islands in the labour traffic, and on one occasion was wounded by a native weapon in the neck, and as these weapons were usually poisoned tlie mate of the vessel cauterised the wound with a hot iron, which he thought was too hot. Since then he frequently complained of the pain in his neck. AVhile working at the tunnel a rock fell on his back, which gave him some pain. He came to witnesses’ hotel, where he usually stayed when ho was unwell; in fact ho looked upon it as his home. On the 25th, when deceased was taken ill, witness sent for the doctor, who was not at home. By deceased’s request witness gave him 30 drops of chlorodyne, which he did not retain on his stomach for move than ten minutes. This was about half-past four, and deceased died about 0 p.m. Witness and another were in the room when he died. Witness saw him apparently going off when he shook deceased to rouse him up, which it did. Witness then asked him if ho had been taking anything. Deceased said he had nut, and seennd surprised at the question. Witness asked tinquestion because ho was alarmed at his appearance. This was just before bis death. Deceased s.rd it was the pain in his stomach that was killing him. Constable Jones produced two chlorodyne bottles, one of which was empty ; the other was full, except for the amount that was given him (30 drops), and an empty bottle labelled “Chloral-Poison.” Witness said to the best of his belief the buttle was empty since Sunday. In reply to the foreman, Dr. Painnan said 30 drops of chlorodyne would not he too much. Minnie Dillon, waitress at the Star Hotel, corroborated tho last witness’statement. Dr Painnan deposed that he was from home when the message came to his house for him. When he went to Kihikihi he found the man had died. The cause of death was inflamation of the bowels. Chlorodyne was a proper medicine to administer in that case. There are some cases of inHamalinn in which medicine would he of mi avail, and death would ensue in three or four hours. He saw deceased on Friday morning and ha appeared to be in good health. The jury without retiring, returned a verdict that deceased died from natural causes.