SINGULAR DEATH OF MR J.H. SMITH.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 3865, 4 January 1883, Page 2

SINGULAR DEATH OF MR J.H. SMITH.

Verdict: Death from Natural

Causes,

Tan coroner's inquest held before Dr Pbilson and jury, at Devonport, oa the body of Mr J. li. Smith, who died under singular circumstances on Tuesday night, concluded at a late hour yesterday, when a verdict of "Death fiom natural causes" wa3 returned. Tnis caused considerable surprise, as judging from the presence of chloral bottles, the peculiar syuiptolis after death, and the statement by Mrs Smith that her husband hid poisoned bimselt, it was believed he had attempted suicide as already stated. Medical testimony, however, shewed that heart disease alono would have oaused death, and that even were chloral present iv the stomach it could not be detected owing to the strong smelt of alcohol, Mrs Smith, widow of deceased, gave evidence in a very excited manner, aud at times became very argumentative and anxious ia regard to comparatively unimportant mattcts. After giving evidence, corruborntivo of what we published lust evening, sho stateel:—After fiuding deceased in bed with his face discoloured, 1 wts alarmed, loosened hw thirt collar aud spoke to him, but received no answer. Applied lavender water to bis face, and thou ran out and ciUee! two if heir neighbours. Mrs Graydcnaml MrsLiitlecaine iv. Aak«d R young mini to go fur Dc Parkinsou, who arrived soon nflerwards. Deceased was dead. He was sixty-otto years of age, and not under medical advice to my knowledge, Deceased hotl been fou'tccn years in the colony. Irccognise tho two empty phials (produced), which I first saw on Tscsduy on tho dressing-table, after having applied the lavender-water to deceased's face. The bottlos arc half-ounce, and arc Libelled "Hunter's Solution of Chloral," a sedative draught, and sleep-producer, and prescribe half a teaspoouful, to be taken iv wstor. Do not know where they were obtained. On Thursday last I observed tho wrapper of the bottles lying about, and remarked to deceased that no ono had a right to supply such things to bim, Uccestscd was not in the habit of ta»ing sleeping draughts at nuht to my knowledge. He had been in Mess's Shnra's employment about six months, and was not in pecuniary diil'teultes as far as I know. lie gave me £11 on Monday last for houxihold expenses. Ho was not of a melancholy disposition. Deceased hnd no reaaon to lay ha ids on himielf. Deceased insured his life while at Uhristchurch for £500, and had left a will. Up to the last I considered him perfectly s«uc. Soniet;mcs his manner was such as led mo to say, "you are not what you ought to be." Deceased was a native of London. Ho lived in Christehurch for seven or eight years. He got on very well for some time. The Coroner : " Well, and what about the rest of the time."

Witness: "Well, you sec, I cannot answer such a question, ,but (growin" eloquent) those persons who placed me ia a lunatic asylum were bribed, and when Englishmen accept of a bribe Her Majesty the Queen must know." Tho Coroner (satisfied): "Oh, I understand.

Henry de Bohun Dcvereux deposed to seeing deceased very intoxicated on Tuesday evening, and a?sistirg him part of the way home and Annie Graydon, who was with Dr. ParKiusou, described the efforts made by tho medical gentlemen to restore life.

Austiu WftHor Gardner stated that Huntor's Solution of Chloral was a well known proprietary article, and to his knowledge, several deaths had followed its use when takeu in over doses. If a person was in a bad state ef health, he believed two bottlefuls would be poisonous.

X, C. Parkinson deposed : I oiled upon tho deceased on Tuesday, at 10 p.m. and found bim dead on his bed, partially dressed. His features were calm and placid and the eyelids closrd,pupils dilated. Thero was no froth at the mouth, but a decided smell of alcohol. Thero was no vomited matter about, or any marks of violence. Tbe wife of the deceased only was in the room. She said deceased bad taken poison, Obterved two empty bottles labelled "Hunter's Solution of Chloral, "also a wive glass on the dressing table, which also snielled of chleral. Tha body was warm, and death had apparently taken place an hour previously, Applied tbe stomach pump and drew oft' a liquid smelling of alcohol, but did not detect the smell of chloral. Dr. McLeod arrived'about aa hour afterwards. Dr. McLeod aud myself potformed a post mortem examination of the i body, fifteen hours after death, 'ihe body was well nourished, and showed no sign of violence externally. 'Ihe chest was first examined, an old pleuritic adhesion on both sides discovered, and partial engorgement of tbe right luog, the left being healthy. The heart was greatly hypcrtrophted and fatty; both ventrie'es empty, and only a email clot found iv tho right; tbo aortic valves were g.oatly rii'oased, being puckered aud ossified. The liver was enlarged, aud nutmegay in appearance The stomach contained partly undigested foad (soup), the mucous membrane was quite denuded, and there was every mark of extensive, inflammation. The intestines were diseased.in patches. The state of the heart was sufficient to have caused death, and may have arisen fiont hard drinking. Chloral would he unsafe to administer to a drunken man. Could not say deceased had been poisoned by chloral.

John Melcod deposed : —I visited deceased about half-past ten on 'luesday oiplit, said found Dr Pavkissou there. On exami .a'ion, had doubts as to death having ■ caken place, the body being warm, and what I considered signs of pulsation in the external iliac artery. There were no sigr.s cf stertor or breathing. Circumstances arose in the room which prevented me from carrying out his examination completely. He could not say that the state of the heait and liver was sufficient to account for doath. A portion of the contents of tbe stomach should be kept for analysis. Dr. Philson stated that thcro were no tests for detecting the presence of chloral at that stage, and tho jury after a brief consultation returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes."