“At the inquest this morning on Edwin George William Hatcher (25), whose body was found in the bottle cellar of the Excelsior Hotel on Thursday, the evidence of the hotel porter showed that he found deceased earlier on a couch in the bar, and placed him in the bottle cellar. He had no instructions to do so, but had done the same on previous occasions. Other evidence showed that deceased had complained of heart trouble. Medical evidence showed that the heart was sound, and that death was due to heart failure following cirrhosis of the liver. The coroner said that deceased had been drinking to excess, and was deserted by his companions. The conditions surrounding his death were of such a nature that close inquiry should be made. He instructed the police to make inquiry into the method of dealing with intoxicated persons in view of the evidence given by the porter.

A verdict in accordance with the medical opinion was returned.”

AUCKLAND STAR, VOLUME LII, ISSUE 192, 13 AUGUST 1921, PAGE 11