Saturday 22 January 2022

Oswald Graham Foster, 1907-28/9/1933.

A YOUNG MAN’S DEATH.

WELL-KNOWN THORNBURY RESIDENT. 

Residents of the Thornbury district received something in the nature of a shock when the news gained currency that Mr Oswald Graham Foster, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Chas Foster, had been discovered dead on his father’s farm on Tuesday afternoon. Deceased, who was well and favourably known throughout the district was 26 years of age, and had always enjoyed the best of health, and his sudden passing away came as a great shock not only to his parents, but to his many friends throughout the district.

An inquest touching the death of deceased was held in the Riverton courthouse on Wednesday afternoon, before Mr E. C. Levvey, coroner. 

Dr O. H. Gordon gave evidence as to the holding of a post mortem on the body of deceased. There was an unusual amount of blueness about the head, face and chest; the heart appeared somewhat fatty and enlarged. The neck showed the presence of a goitre mark, and in his opinion death was due to suffocation. 

Chas. Robt. Foster, father of deceased, said Oswald was his youngest, son and was 26 years of age. He lived and worked on witness’s place at Thornbury. He was always strong and never complained, but when a boy at school he had been subject to fainting fits. After morning tea he went out to attend to his usual duties about the farm, and thinking he had gone to his brother’s place witness was not concerned when he did not put in an appearance at noon day. Between 4 and 5 p.m. witness was proceeding towards the cow byre when he noticed deceased lying at full length face downwards, the right hand being under his mouth and his left arm over the chest. He turned over the body, which was stiff, but not quite cold, the neck and chest being purple in colour. There were no marks on the body. Deceased was a powerfully built young man. 

Constable Fraser gave evidence as to receiving word from the father about the sudden death of his son, and proceeded to the locality. He had the body removed to the house of deceased, and upon investigation found no marks of violence on the body. 

The coroner returned the following verdict: “that the deceased Oswald Graham Foster died at Thornbury on 23th September, 1933, and that death was due to asphyxiation following a rupture of abscess on lower lobe of the left lung.”

The funeral took place on Thursday, the remains being followed to their last resting place in the Riverton cemetery by a large number of friends from all parts of the district. The services at the graveside were conducted by the Rev G. N. Luker.  -Western Star, 29/9/1933.


Riverton Cemetery.


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