INQUEST.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9521, 14 September 1896, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held on Saturday tnornint at the Hereford Hotel, before Mr R. Be*,, tham, Coroner, and a jury,of whom MrMajoi Cunningham was chosen foreman, concerning the death of Cli*i«. Hillary Parker, who was found dead in his ollice in Hereford street on Friday morning. Tiie Coroner said he had not ordered i post mortem examination, as, under the cir. cinnstances, he did- not think it noceaaarj, the cause of death being so clear. It wm, however, open to the jury to ordor one. William P. Towncnd, chemist, Colombo street, deposed that deceased, on Thursday, purchased 30 grains of strychnine, pit* suinably for rats, from him. Edward Bennett, deceased's assistant, deposed to seeing him about a quarter to 6 p.m. on Thursday, when ho appeared all right, and to finding the body in deceased 1 ! oflice at 8.15 n.m. on Friday. Sergeant Briggs stated that, in company with Dr. Symcs, ho searched the body, and found on it, among other things, the follow, ing letter (tho writing of which was identified by Bennett as being Parker's)-— " My dear wife—Good-bye. It is the best and only thing for mc. lam mad. Xi« the children for me.—Hillary." In th« waste paper basket was found the vemtdm of some orange, but no traces of poison oould be found.

Robert Skilling deposed that ho was with Parker when he purchased the strychnine at the chemist's. The docoa.cd did not appear to be depressed. The Coroner asked if there were not bodi» troubles with which deceased wm connected.*

Sergeant-Major Maiton answered "V», H and stated what it was proposed toyraye. The Coroner asked if this was necesjiity Sera***.;. MW¥csL _W*#,? a to show what cauio uoceasea Jiau foriaklDg his.life.. ,';„-:>.' .•■>; *{-■ S* The Coroner said they had the letter, be* yond which he did not think it was necessarj to go. What the jury was concerned inwti in ascertaining tho cause of death, and the question was had it sufficient ovidence ? Th* police proposed to lead evidence to ~hof why deceased might bo moved to take his own life. He (the Coroner) could not go into I trial as to whether this man did or did not commit certain acts, be* caufle there might bo another ejde to the matter. They could not have tt>e explanation of tho deceased, and it appeared to him (the Coroner) that no good wottldte gained by proving what was proposed to be proved. If it would be of any use to till man's family, or necessary to prove it, well and good ; but he did not think it would be, However, it was a matter for the jury to »y whether they had sufficient, or wantfti further, evidence. The jury unanimously decided that it WM unnecessary to hear the evidence proposed to be led, and, without retiring, returned » verdict -"That deceased, while in a state ol unsound mind, administered strychnine, from the effects of which he died."