In the afternoon the Coroner held an inquest on the body of the late Mr John Thomson, who died in his bed at his residence in Belleknowes on Friday. Mr H. A. LeCren was foreman of the jury, and the police were represented by Constable Power.
Isabella Thomson, wife of deceased, deposed that her husband was unwell in the early part of the week, and had had to go to bed .for a couple of days, but was well enough to go to his work on Thursday last. She met him in the evening after office hours, and walked home with him. That night they went to bed about 12, and deceased had a very restless night. About daylight he got up and said that he would go into a back bedroom, so that his restlessness would not disturb her. He told her not to wake him if he was asleep when she got up. She did not go into the room till about 25 minutes to 9, when she found that he was dead. She ran out and called some of the neighbours, some of whom endeavoured to restore animation by rubbing the body. Dr Gordon Macdonald was sent for.
George H. Thomson, brother of deceased, stated that his brother was apparently very healthy, and never knew a day's illness. He was abstemious in his habits, and seemed to do with very little sleep. He had no business worries so far as witness was aware.
Dr Gordon Macdonald deposed that he was called about 9 o'clock, and found deceased lying on the bed. Death must have taken place some hours previously, as rigor mortis had set in. The face and neck presented a congested appearance, indicating that there had been some interference with the process of respiration, otherwise the condition of the body was normal. There were no external facts to warrant him giving an opinion as to the cause of death.
The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said that he thought it much more satisfactory that the cause of death should be ascertained, and the jury would be taking a serious responsibility on themselves in bringing in a verdict without this being done. However, it was for them to say if they thought death was due to natural causes or whether it was desirable that there should be a post mortem examination made. In the event of the latter course being adopted, it would be necessary to adjourn the inquest till they learned the result.
The jury deliberated in private for a few minutes, and then returned a verdict "That there was not sufficient evidence to show the cause of death, but in their opinion there were no suspicious circumstances, and there was no necessity for a post mortem examination." -Otago Daily Times, 31/3/1902.
Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.
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