The question of drunkenness was brought up in court because the death certificate handed to the police, and signed by Dr. E. Herz, Assistant Medical Officer of the Shanghai General Hospital, and Dr. Patrick, had the word, "Drunk?" written upon it, Dr. Patrick explained this by saying that he had made this note on the certificate as the Indian constable of the S.M.P. who brought the deceased to hospital had mentioned this word. Dr. Patrick himself did not notice any trace of alcohol.
The Coroner passed the verdict that death was caused by a fractured skull and laceration of the brain.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.