“The sudden death of Constable Hercules Spence at the police station on Thursday, was the subject of an inquest held by the coroner, Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., yesterday.

Constable C. C. Christiansen stated that at about 12.55 p.m. on Thursday he relieved Constable Spence on point duty at the Customs Street intersection of Queen Street. Just as Spence was leaving, witness noticed a crowd at the door of the Thames Hotel, and saw a man beckoning to them to go over. Spence and witness went to the hotel. There was a crowd in the passage, and Spence went to the assistance of Constable Forsythe, who had arrested a man. Forsythe led the prisoner out, and Spence and witness followed. Witness then heard a man using obscene language, and arrested him. He led him over to a taxi, and after seeing that Spence was capable of managing him, witness returned to his duty. The arrested man was then sitting next to Spence in the taxi, perfectly quiet. T. D. Worden, taxi-driver, said that the arrested man was quiet on the way to the police station, but as he got out of the car he hesitated. Constable Spence caught him from the back, and partly carried him into the station. Constable Forsythe took the prisoner from Spence at the inner door of the watchhouse. When Spence turned round after being relieved, witness, noticed that he seemed to be exhausted. Witness went into the watchhouse, and on coming out saw Spence lying in the passage, with Sergeant Brown attending to him. Sergeant P. J. Brown stated that as Constable Spence left the watchhouse he took a few steps and fell, striking his face on the floor. He did not speak, and died in a few minutes. Dr. Aitken was immediately summoned, and found that life was extinct.

Constable F. Forsythe deposed that after placing the prisoner in the watchhouse, he heard a thud outside, and found Sergeant Brown attending to Constable Spence, who was lying on the floor. The deceased was about 25 years old, and resided in the police barracks. His relatives lived at Whangarei. Dr. H. F. Holmden. who made a post mortem, stated that the immediate cause of death was sudden dilatation of the right side of the heart, caused by sudden exertion, plus excitement, imposed on the heart, which was affected by fatty infiltration.

The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.”

[New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17217, 19 July 1919, Page 10]

Hercules had only been with the Police for a few weeks prior to his death.