[October 15, 1900 – Auckland Star] On Saturday afternoon a young man aged 24 years, named Walter Chatwin, living with his father, a settler at Mt. Albert, was killed while playing in a football match, Mt. Albert v. Kingsland; Chatwin was playing for Kingsland.
The inquest was held at the Avondale Hotel yesterday afternoon, before Dr. McArthur and a jury, of whom Mr W. A. Bollard was chosen foreman. Constable Crean represented the police.
W. H. Chatwin, lithographer, a brother of deceased, said his brother was a butcher by trade, but had been working for his father as a carter and general hand. Witness last saw his brother about three weeks ago in Queen Street. His brother was then in good health, and he was very strong and hardy. He was 24 years old, and born in New Zealand.
Henry Miller, storeman in the employ of Henry Miller and Co., residing at Mt. Albert, said he had known deceased for about three or four years. Deceased took part in the football match at Mt. Albert between the players of Mt. Albert and those of Kingsland. Deceased played with the latter team. The game began about 3.20, and was played in the usual manner.
The first incident was a rush. After that the teams lined out, and the deceased was found lying on the ground. The whistle was blown owing to the fact that a player was hurt. All went over and saw that deceased was hurt. One of the players got a little brandy and the rest applied the usual remedies of rubbing. As the rubbing process did not revive deceased, some brandy was got from Mr M. McLean’s, but no one succeeded in administering it. Chatwin complained of having received a bump on his neck and shoulder. About five to ten minutes previous to deceased’s being laid out he came into collision with witness, but no complaint was made about it. They both suffered, but continued the game.
Deceased was wing threequarter, and witness was playing five-eighths. Witness met him and came into collision with him, witness’ shoulder coming into collision with deceased’s chest. It was after this that deceased was laid out. Play was resumed, and both took up their positions. There was then a forward rush from the Mount Albert side, in which the deceased was laid out. He did not know with whom deceased came into contact on that occasion.
Every attention was paid to deceased when he was hurt. The game was stopped, and Dr. Parkes was sent for. He arrived little over an hour afterwards. The deceased was then dead. There was no reason to suspect any foul play, as the game was played in the best possible spirit on both sides. There was no personal feeling on either side.
Joseph Clarke, bootmaker, residing at Kingsland, who played in the game, deposed to deceased receiving two severe bumps from Miller playing on behalf of Mt. Albert. On the second occasion he was not in a position to say who came in contact with deceased. He saw the rush, and was of opinion there was no foul or rough play. He knew of no one having a grudge against deceased, or any member of the opposite team. In witness’ opinion as a member of deceased’s team, no blame was attachable to any one.
S. T. Astley, carrier, referee in the game, living at Avondale, said the game was fast, but there was no unnecessarily rough play. He saw the two incidents in which deceased suffered, and in his opinion there was not in the slightest any blame attachable to any one.
To a Juryman: Deceased had a peculiar method of throwing his head about when attacked.
Dr. Parkes, who made a post mortem, said he found a hemorrhage on the base of the brain, due to laceration of the brain tissue. He considered this sufficient to account for the cause of death.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.