WILLIAM CAMFION’S DEATH.
Mr H. Y. Widdowson began an inquest this morning into the circumstances surrounding the death of William Campion, who died suddenly at his house in Lees street yesterday morning.
Elizabeth Harriet Campion, wife of deceased, said her husband bad been a carter employed by Messrs Powley and Keast for about a year. For about the past fortnight deceased had bad a slight cold and sore throat, but nothing serious. He had no cough. When he came from work last Saturday he said that his employers had advised him to take a rest. Apart from the cold and sore throat he seemed to be in his normal state of health. On Sunday he seemed better, and on Monday better still. He remained at home on Tuesday. His throat seemed much better, and he intended going back to work next day. He was not confined to bed whilst at home. On Wednesday he rose about 5.40 a.m. — about his usual time when working. When he was dressed he suddenly rushed out on to the footpath in front of the house, and called out to stop his horse. Witness rushed out and saw him disappearing over a bank in front of the house. His horse and cart were not near the house at all, but were kept at Powley and Keast’s place. It had been a delusion on his part. Witness immediately went for her next-door neighbor, who came and found deceased at the bottom of the bank in a sitting posture. He said something about having broken his leg. His manner was strange, and he was removed into Ins house. Dr O’Neill came first and then Dr Barnett, and they informed witness that deceased’s knee joint was dislocated. Deceased died about 9 a.m. He was forty-three years of age, and had no property. He had always been kind and considerate to witness and his family of four, of whom the eldest is twenty-two years of age. Deceased drank a little, but never to excess. During his stay at home he had very little drink. On the day before his death he had only one glass of ale in the afternoon. In August, 1906, he was committed to Seacliff Mental Hospital, but was only there about three weeks. Witness did not notice any strangeness about deceased prior to him rushing out of the house yesterday morning. He was not attended by a doctor prior to the accident. Witness said that deceased had one child and three step-children. She was a widow with three children when deceased married her twelve years ago.
The inquest was adjourned, and will be resumed to-morrow at 9.15 a.m.
It has been decided to hold a post mortem examination of the body. -Evening Star, 20/5/1909.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE Friends of the late William Campion (and family) are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave his late residence, 5 Lees street, Dunedin, TO-MORROW (Friday) May 21st, at 2 o’clock, for the Southern Cemetery.
COLE AND SPRINGER; Undertakers, 152 George street. -Evening Star, 20/5/1909.
WILLIAM CAMPIONS DEATH.
The inquest touching the circumstances surrounding the death of William Campion, who died suddenly at his home in Lees street Inst Wednesday morning, was continued by Mr H. Y. Widdowson this morning.
Dr Roberts, who held a post mortem exanimation of deceased's body yesterday, said were no external marks on the body. On examining the organs he found that the liver and kidneys were fatty, and the brain membranes contained an abnormal quantity of fluid. These conditions, taken together, pointed to chronic alcoholism. There was a patch of inflammation in the apex of the right lung, whilst the left lung was normal. So was the heart. The stomach was empty. The dislocation of the knee had been reduced. Taking into consideration the nature of the accident, there must have been a tremendous shock, which, added to exhaustion and acute delirium arising from pneumonic condition, predisposed to by alcoholism, caused the death of deceased, who had been well-nourished.
Dr O'Neill said he was called in to see deceased on May 19, between 7 and 7.30 a.m., when he found him suffering from great shock, delirium, and restlessness. Witness looked upon deceased's condition as being serious. One of deceased's knee joints was completely dislocated, the lower end of the thigh bone being almost through the skin at the back of the leg. This condition, in itself, would produce a very considerable amount of shock, thus aggravating his already serious condition. Witness detailed how he and Dr Barnett set the dislocated knee joint of the deceased, who did not take the anesthetic well. In fact, he was really never under its influence at all. After the joint was set deceased showed signs of collapse, and despite every effort to restore him died in about three-quarters of an hour. Witness did not smell alcohol on the deceased, but he (witness) was of the opinion that deceased was subject to alcoholism. The death of deceased was due to shock, the chloroform having nothing whatever to do with his death.
Dr Barnett also gave evidence, which was practically corroborative of that given by Dr O'Neill. Witness emphasised the strength of deceased's delirium, which caused him to struggle violently under touch, and thus added to his exhaustion.
Elizabeth Harriet Campion, wife of deceased, was recalled, and said that all she noticed wrong with her husband was a slight cold and sore throat. He did not complain about any pain in the chest. He only complained of his throat. Witness still said that her husband did not drink to excess.
Samuel Ellison, laborer, who lives next door to deceased's house, also gave evidence. Deceased must have fallen over two banks, because witness found him at the foot of the lower bank. Deceased was delirious.
The inquest was then adjourned till 4 p.m. -Evening Star, 21/5/1909.
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