Sudden Death.
|By Telegraph. [united press association.] Dunedin. This Day.
Thomas Salter has died suddenly at his residence in Anderson's Bay road. In December he arrived from Sydney, with his family. He was then in indifferent health, having been in a Lunatic Asylum before coming here. He had been ordered to take no spirits, but during his wife's absence from town Salter procured some rum. On her return he was found dead. -Evening Post, 14/5/1890.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE Friends of the late Mr Thomas Salter are invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave his late residence, Victoria terrace, Anderson's Bay road, for the Southern Cemetery, TO-MORROW (Thursday), the 10th inst., at 11 a.m.
HUGH GOURLEY, Undertaker, Clarke and Maclaggan streets. -Evening Star, 14/65/1890.
SUDDEN DEATH.
A death under circumstances which called for an inquest occurred at 4 Victoria terrace, Anderson Bay road, on Monday afternoon. It seems that in December last Thomas Salter, a man supposed to be well connected, arrived from Sydney with his wife, and, being in ill-health, has since been attended by Dr Teevan. Salter, who manifested peculiar symptoms at times, had been in a lunatic asylum before coming to this colony. It is stated that his medical attendant ordered that no spirits should be given him; but on the day in question it appears that Mr Salter went into town, accompanied by a man named Poole, who had been living in the house, leaving the deceased at home and some rum in the place. When they returned Salter, who had been drinking, was found to be dead.
THE INQUEST was held before Coroner Carew at Blaney's Hotel this afternoon.
Sarah Jane Salter said that the body was that of her late husband, Thomas S. Salter. He was born in Sydney, and arrived here on December 11. He had been a coachsmith at Sydney, but was compelled to stop through failing sight. He was never able to retain his food after undergoing an operation. He had been in bad health. Deceased was very headstrong. He could not walk during the last three months without assistance. He had been given up by the doctors in New South Wales; his case was considered incurable. He had been in the asylum at Balmain, New South Wales, and remained there until the doctors said he was incurable. He was then taken home, where he remained about three months. They then came to New Zealand on account of witness's bad health. Deceased was about fifty-five years of age. He suffered from a serious complaint. The day before yesterday she left him and the children at a quarter past two, and returned about a quarter past four. She gave him some brandy before she went away, and he seemed in his usual state of health. Mr Poole gave him some liquor in the morning, and he had some liquor in the afternoon. He did not get much liquor — a bottle would last him a week. He refused his food on Sunday morning; that was the first occasion on which he had not taken his meals. When he died witness thought that he was sleeping, and said: "Here, wake up, and have some of this warm stuff." She was cooking some sausages, when Poole, who was staying in the house, returned with some rum. Mr Poole made a warm drink for deceased, and took it in, when it was seen that deceased was uncovered. She asked for assistance to fix the bed up, and as they attended to him he must have been dying — he had a warm perspiration on his forehead. [Left sitting.] -Evening Star, 14/5/1890.
SUDDEN DEATH.
A resident of Anderson's Bay road named Thomas Salter, who has only been in the colony for about six months, died somewhat unexpectedly at his dwelling on Monday afternoon. He had been in ill-health for a considerable time, and had been an inmate of a lunatic asylum at Balmain, New South Wales.
INQUEST.
An inquest on the body was held at Blaney's Caledonian Hotel yesterday afternoon before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six, of whom Mr Charles Fisher was chosen foreman.
The following evidence was given: —
Sarah Jane Salter deposed that the body shown to the jury was that of her late husband. Thomas Salter. He was born in Sydney, and arrived here on the 11th of December Inst from that port. He was a coachsmith in Sydney, but gave up business about five years ago on account of failing sight. He underwent an operation in Sydney, since which he had never been able to retain his food. Since his arrival here deceased had been out for a drive, but was always anxious to get to bed again. The last three months he could not walk without, help. He had been in Balmain Public Asylum, Sydney, and had been sent home as incurable He was there about three months. Deceased came to New Zealand on account of witness' health. Deceased was about 55 years of age, and was seen first by Dr Martin, who was telephoned for on the last occasion, but owing to a misunderstanding he did not come, and the girl was thought to say through the telephone deceased was dead. He had been attended by Dr Teevan. On Monday morning deceased was the same as usual, and talked quite sensibly. Witness left the home at a quarter to 2 o'clock, and returned at a quarter-past 4 o'clock, leaving the servant in the house during her absence. The three children, the eldest of whom was nine years old, were also in the house with deceased. Witness gave deceased a drink of warm brandy before leaving, and he then appeared the same as usual. A Mr Poole gave deceased a little drop of brandy in the morning, but he had very little altogether. A bottle of brandy would last a week. He refused food on Monday morning, which was not unusual with him. He was not troubled with any pain. Witness thought deceased was asleep when she went to him on her return home. She said "Here's a warm drink for you," and on looking saw he was dead. On witness returning home she began attending to some cooking, and about three-quarters of an hour after this Mr Pool came in with a bottle of rum. A warm drink was made of this by Mr Poole, who took it into the room where deceased lay Mr Poole said, "Just come and look; he is all uncovered." Witness said, "Grace (meaning the servant), you had better come and help me make his bed. Witness caught hold of her husband, who she thought must have been then just dying, as he was quite warm and there was a warm perspiration on his forehead. Witness said to Mr Poole, "He's dead," and he replied, "Not he." When witness got hold of deceased's arm to give him the drink she knew what was the matter. Deceased had left no will. He had no property, but had been living on witness' means, which were derived partly from her father, now deceased, who had been in the 11th Regiment. There was no insurance on deceased's (witness' husband) life.
To the Police: Witness returned home before Mr Poole, who was engaged to be married to her sister. Mr Poole returned about a quarter-past 5 o'clock. Witness did not go into deceased's bedroom till Mr Poole came, as the girl had said she believed he was sleeping, as he was so quiet.
To the Coroner: Deceased was noisy at times. If there was anything in the room he would catch hold of it and break it. This, witness thought, was due to insanity.
To a Juryman: The door of the bedroom was not kept looked, so deceased could have got up and gone out if he liked. He was given up by all the leading doctors in New South Wales.
Charles Poole, sworn, said he was not in employment at present, but was formerly a groom and coachman in Sydney. Witness came from that city with Mr and Mrs Salter to Dunedin, and had known deceased about three years. He had been living with Mr and Mrs Salter on and off about two years or two years and a-half. Witness had been out of employment nearly 12 months. Deceased's condition during that time was very changeable. One day he was fresh and well, and at another time the other way. He was not a hard drinker, as far as witness knew, though he was always very fond of a little drop of rum. Witness saw him on Monday morning, when he looked very bad; but witness had often seen him looking worse. Witness assisted to give him something to eat and drink. Witness offered him something to eat alone first, but he would not take it, and he got the girl to assist him to raise deceased, who was at times unable to raise himself in bed. Deceased took only one mouthful, and then refused to take any more. Witness did not notice what the food was, and could not say what it was. Deceased drank three or four mouthfuls of brandy. Witness again saw deceased about 1.30 or 2 o'clock when he was lying very quiet. Witness could not say if he was asleep or not. He did not speak to deceased. He appeared to witness to be comfortable at that time, and witness did not see him again alive. Witness went to town about 2 o'clock and returned about 5. Mrs Salter was then at home. Witness took a bottle of rum home with him for deceased, and as soon as he got in the house he made deceased a drop of hot rum. Witness asked them how the old man was, as he had been very noisy before this and very troublesome. The girl said he had been very quiet and had not spoken while witness was away. Witness went to the bedroom door, on opening which he saw the bedclothes were all pushed down. Witness called out, "What the h___ is the good of covering him up; he won't keep the clothes on him," naturally thinking that he was asleep. With that, Mrs Salter and the girl came and looked in the room. Witness had seen him in that position many times and thought he was asleep. Witness shook deceased by the arm and told him to to sit up and have a drop of hot rum. Mrs Salter felt deceased's leg and said, "He's dead." Witness said, "No he's not," and shook him again. He could then see that he was dead. He told them to send at once for the doctor who attended him last. It was about 5 o'clock that witness discovered that deceased was dead. Witness knew nothing about deceased's means, and would like to know why the doctor refused to give a certificate.
Mr Carew: You are here as a witness. You must behave yourself.
Witness continued that on the Monday deceased just said "Charley," and on being asked if he was all right he said "Yes," after being asked two or three times. Deceased had relatives in Sydney.
To the Police: Deceased very often had no spirits during the week, though he was fond of a little rum. Witness could not say how much spirits a week deceased had. The medical men, as far as witness knew, allowed deceased to have rum. Dr Martin himself gave him rum. The rum was taken home at deceased's request. Witness contradicted this afterwards, and said he took it for his benefit.
Grace Cairns stated that she had been in Mr Salter's employ for a month last Saturday, and knew them before that from being neighbours. During her time of service deceased had not been out of the house, because he would not get out of his bed. It would be between 8 and 9 o'clock when witness first saw deceased on Monday morning. He then seemed the same as on previous mornings. Witness heard him speak that morning, but not so freely as usual. He made no complaint and had a little breakfast, but witness could not say if she helped to give him it on that morning. She gave him his dinner. Mrs Salter left the house about a quarter to 2 o'clock, before which witness gave deceased his dinner. He took very little and left the rest. He fed himself, but never chewed it — swallowed it whole. Mr Poole gave deceased some brandy at the same time. Deceased took the cup in which it was and drank the contents. He was able to sit up for his dinner, but Mr Poole helped him to sit up for the brandy. Mr Poole also gave deceased brandy about 11 o'clock in the day. Mr Poole left the house about half-past 1 o'clock, before Mrs Salter. Deceased did not get brandy every day because the doctor said he was not to have it. Deceased craved a good deal for drink, but was always worse after taking it. Deceased's bedroom was left open when Mrs Salter left so that witness might go into the room if necessary, but she did not go in during Mrs Salter's absence. Mrs Salter came in at about a quarter to 4 o'clock, and Mr Poole about 5. Witness told Mrs Salter that deceased had been very quiet, and she (Mrs Salter) did not go into the bedroom, but started making sausages. Mr Poole came home, made the rum hot and took it into the bedroom. Witness thought they all went into the room, and Mrs Salter went up to him and said "Sit up," and putting her hand on him found he was dead. Mr Poole said in reply to her that he was not dead. Witness put her hand on deceased's forehead and thought he was dead. Mrs Salter went away for a doctor, but made a mistake in the name. Witness heard no noise whatever in the bedroom during Mrs Salter's absence in town. Witness thought deceased was kindly treated. Mrs Salter did all for him that she could do.
To the Police: Witness could not say how often deceased got spirits in the day.
To a Juryman: Mr Poole was very kind to deceased, who was very fond of him.
Dr Teevan deposed that he first saw deceased, a patient of Dr Martin's, on May 5. Witness found deceased in bed in a very emaciated condition, with bed sores on both hips, and unable to control his actions. The result of this was that the smell in the room was very offensive. He also appeared to be suffering from a form of insanity called dementia. Witness could get no reply from deceased, who kept calling out for rum. He was not capable of carrying out a conversation. Witness told his wife not to give him rum, and she said she had to do so in order to keep him quiet and prevent him disturbing the neighbours. Witness told her it was a case in which he could do nothing, and that it was no use spending her money. Witness called again on Wednesday, the 9th inst , to show Mrs Salter how to use a certain thing, and while doing this she said, "If I have to do that it's no use your showing me, because it's repulsive." Witness could sympathise with her in saying this, for it was even repulsive to him. She asked how long deceased would live, and witness replied he might not live six months and he might live some years. She said she hoped he would not live so long. — witness concluded on account of the repulsive nature of the case, which was very bad. Witness should say that deceased was a man who had been given to chronic alcoholism, though he was perfectly sober on both occasions he visited him. On Monday, the 12tb, about 9 o'clock, witness again saw deceased. He was lying on his right side, with the arms crossed over the chest and the legs bent, the left being on the right. The face was quite calm, as though he had died quietly. The body was cold, and life had been extinct probably about five or six hours. There were no signs of violence, and the bed sores, the treatment of which witness had explained to Mrs Salter, were very much improved. This showed that Mrs Salter had attended to deceased well during the past week. Witness was surprised to find deceased dead on the Monday. In cases of poisoning rigor mortis did not, witness believed, set in. If there had been foul play, he did believe there would have been rigor mortis. He saw no reason to suspect foul play. He told Mrs Salter that he would have to tell the police of the matter, and she said she was not afraid. She acted with perfect candour throughout. Witness believed the cause of death to be premature decay of the vital powers, due to chronic alcoholism, and also insanity. Witness told Mrs Salter it would be far better to send deceased to a lunatic asylum, and she said she would consider it. She said his age was 41, and witness expressed surprise at his not being older. Witness believed Mrs Salter looked after deceased to the best of her ability. Witness had never refused to give a death certificate.
Mr Carew said that was all the evidence. The main thing that struck him was that deceased seemed to have suffered from chronic alcoholism. He seemed to have been supplied with drink by someone in the house, and the reason given for that was that it was to prevent him making a noise and disturbing the neighbours. He thought Mrs Salter had made a mistake in not sending deceased to a lunatic asylum. Dr Teevan had said that Mrs Salter attended deceased as well as she could, and that he did not suspect foul play, The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, that deceased's death was caused by premature decay, due to chronic alcoholism, and also insanity. -Otago Witness, 15/5/1890.
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