Horace Kirkland, aged 27, a mining student, was found dead in bed at his mother's residence at Roslyn yesterday morning. He returned from Stewart's Island on Saturday apparently in the best of health and seemed all right late that evening. -Bay of Plenty Times, 13/4/1914.
AN INQUEST
PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
(BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, This Day.
Peculiar circumstances were revealed this morning at the inquest on Samuel Skierra Horace Kirkland, a mining student, found dead in bed on Sunday morning. The doctors who conducted the postmortem examination stated that the body was well nourished and well developed, muscular, all the internal organs and the brain were normal, and the medical men were at a loss to account for the cause of death. Particular attention was paid to the heart, from which it was supposed deceased had been suffering, but it was found to be quite normal, and all the valves were perfect. The suggestion was made that death might be due to poisoning, but the doctors said the examination had been most careful, and that there was nothing to indicate poisoning, adding, however, that the only test for that would be a chemical analysis of the contents of the stomach.
At the request of the police, the inquest was adjourned sine die to allow a test to be made. -Evening Post, 13/4/1914.
A MYSTERIOUS DEATH
DOCTORS PUZZLED
(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, April 13,
The inquest on the body of Samuel Skierra Horace Kirkland, a mining student, who was found dead in his bed yesterday morning, was opened today, but the evidence failed to disclose the actual cause of death, and the enquiry was adjourned sine die, in order that a chemical analysis might be made.
Phillip Spence Bett, ironfounder, said he was a brother-in-law of deceased, who had recently been doing the practical work of his university course at a tin mine at Stewart Island.
Mary Kirkland, a widow, said her son had of late years complained of heart trouble. A few years ago, owing to some trouble with a runaway horse, he was supposed to have strained his heart. He had been at Stewart Island since Christmas, and returned on Thursday. He appeared to be in fairly good health, and made no complaint, beyond remarking that he had had internal pains occasionally. On Saturday he seemed all right, and witness left him reading in the sitting-room at 10 p.m. Next morning she called him at about 8 o'clock, but he did not answer. Again calling, but getting no reply, she went into his room, and, seeing that something was wrong, telephoned for Dr. Church, who came at once, but on arrival pronounced life extinct. Death had taken place several hours previously.
This morning Dr. Church made a post-mortem examination, Dr. Williams assisting.
Dr. Church said the body was wellnourished and well-developed, muscularly. Witness examined all the internal organs and brain, and, continued the doctor, "I am at a loss to account for the cause of death, all the organs being healthy, so far as we could judge. We paid particular attention to the heart, but found it quite normal, and all the valves perfect. There was nothing at all suspicious in what we found, but what was really the cause of death I am at a loss to say."
The Coroner remarked that it was a strange case. The suggestion that death might be due to poisoning was made, but the doctor said the examination had been most carefully made, and there was nothing to indicate poisoning. He added, however, that the only test for that would be a chemical analysis of the contents of the stomach. The Coroner pointed out that it was for the police to say whether tests should be made.
Sergeant Matthews: I think it would be advisable.
The Coroner: The doctor is satisfied that death was due to natural causes.
Sergeant Matthews: Yes, but what was the actual cause?
Dr. Church: That is the point. A healthy young man dies suddenly in his bed. I cannot put my finger on any part and say that death was the result of disease of that organ.
The Coroner adjourned the inquest sine die, in order to allow of a chemical analysis of the contents of the stomach to be made by the Government Analyst.
During the enquiry it was stated that deceased hail not slept in an ordinary bedroom, but had retired to a back room where his books were kept, evidently with the view of studying, as he was preparing for an examination. -Press, 14/4/1914.
DEATH FROM ANGINA PECTORIS.
DUNEDIN, April 22.
The adjourned inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Samuel Skierra Horace Kirkland, aged 27 years, who was found dead in bed on the morning of April 12, was held to-day. At the inquest Dr. Church was unable to assign the cause of death, and it was decided to have the contents of the deceased's stomach analysed.
The report of the Public Analyst (Dr. Napier) was to the effect that the examination disclosed no evidence of organic or inorganic poison.
Dr. Church said that, after careful consideration of the analyst's report and the study of .similar cases, he was forced to the conclusion that the cause of death must have been angina pectoris.
The Coroner, (Mr C. C. Graham) returned a verdict in accordance with the medical finding, and mentioned that there had been no suspicion about the case at all. -Ashburton Guardian, 23/4/1914.
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