Sergeant Michael O'Keefe, (1826-1/8/1895). "about to strike a match"

INQUEST.

Au inquest was held at Heffernan's South Dunedin Hotel this afternoon before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury (Mr Philip H. Brady, foreman) on the body of Michael O'Keefe, an elderly man, who was found dead in his home in Carey's avenue, South Dunedin, this morning. 

Peter Johnston, coal merchant, identified the body as that of Michael O'Keefe. Latterly, when well enough, deceased was doorkeeper at places of amusement. He was about sixty years of age, and a widower. He was a tenant of witness's, and lived by himself. His health had not been very good lately; he was in the hospital two winters ago. Witness last saw him alive on Tuesday morning. Deceased used to come to witness's place almost every day to see the newspaper. On Wednesday witness did not see him, and to-day witness and his partner (Mr Robertson) went to his house. They looked through the window and saw his hat and spectacles on the table. They burst in the door and found the man dead in bed. The bed clothes were covering him. He had a box of matches in his left hand, and appeared to have been about to strike a match. 

Sergeant Brown, stationed at South Dunedin, said he had known the deceased for the last twenty-three years. Deceased was a member of the police force from 1861 to 1875, and when he left the service he ranked as first-class sergeant. He was a native of Ireland. Lately he had suffered a deal from rheumatic gout. He had a married daughter, living somewhere between Dunedin and Oamaru, and a son, who is in the railway service in Auckland. So far as witness could learn deceased had not been seen since Tuesday.

Dr Jeffcoat deposed that he examined the body this afternoon. It appeared as if the man had been sitting up in bed, and had fallen back on his pillow. Witness thought the man had been dead quite forty-eight hours, and that the cause of death was heart disease.

Constable Willis also gave evidence. 

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.  -Evening Star, 18/7/1895.

Michael O’Keefe was found dead in his house at South Dunedin to-day. Death was probably due to heart disease. The deceased had been a sergeant in the Otago and Southland police, and had also served in the Victorian force.  -Southland Times, 19/7/1895.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.