Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Mrs Elizabeth Anne MITCHELL, Cornish Town, Cobar, New South Wales

DEATH OF MR. "BOB" MITCHELL.
Mr. Robert Alexander ("Bob") Mitchell took ill very suddenly in Bathurst on Monday night. He collapsed in the street. The Dr. was summoned, but he was dead on the medical  man's arrival. The cause of death was heart failure. Deceased, who was a popular young man, was 33 years of age. His  mother is still alive, also Walter and Archie, brothers, and  one sister, Mrs. O. King, with whom everyone sympathises in their bereavement. Bob was working at the Small Arms Factory, Lithgow, and evidently had gone to Bathurst for the  races. He is another victim of the war. While at the front he was gassed very badly, the after effects of which caused him a good deal of suffering.
The Inquest.
An inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death was held by the Deputy Coroner of Bathurst. Sergt. McKeon stated that at about 10.5 p.m. on the 20th instant, he went to 231 Russell-street, where he saw the body of a man lying on the back verandah. He was fully dressed. There were no blood or marks of violence on the body. He conveyed the body to the hospital morgue. On searching deceased's clothing he found £3/18/, a watch and chain, pen, pocket-book and papers, also two defaced coins (produced).
Ernest Ambler, an employee of the Lithgow Gas Works, stated that he had known the deceased for the past seven years. Deceased had been unemployed, but had previously been working at the Small Arms Factory. He was a single man, 33 years of age, and a native of Cobar. He was not possessed of any property.
Dr. Archibald Murray, locum tenens for Dr. Hugh Busby, who made a postmorten examination of the body, said he could not discern any marks of violence externally or internally. In his opinion deceased died from cardiac failure.
John Andrew Colin Ainsworth, who accompanied deceased from Lithgow, to the races, said after having tea they walked round the town to the corner of George and Russell-streets. They went round that corner and deceased suddenly collapsed and fell. He had him taken into Mr. Wood's residence close by and sent for the doctor and the police.
George Woods, a bookmaker's clerk, stated that a man (Ainsworth) knocked at his front door about 9 o'clock on Monday night and told him his mate had fallen and was  unconscious. They carried him inside through the hall to the back. Witness tried to revive the man, but failed, and he then went for the doctor and also informed Constable Lamrock, who was standing at the corner. Later Sergt. McKeon came and took the body away. Witness had not seen the deceased before that night. The Deputy Coroner found  that death was due to natural causes, to wit, cardiac failure.