DEATH CAUSED BY POISON

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25243, 23 July 1947, Page 4

DEATH CAUSED BY POISON

CORONER’S VERDICT AT INQUEST An inquest into the death of Henry Ellis James, aged 73, was concluded yesterday before the Coroner, Mr Raymond Ferner. Sergeant E. W. F. Simpson conducted pioceedings for the police. Sergeant F. G. Heywood said he saw the body of James on the morning of May 28, and there were no marks of violence on it. Constable A. R. Cruikshanks said he was called to a house in Matlock street. James was lying on a bed. There was a note . written on cardboard and the witness came to the conclusion that James had taken poison. He found a tin of poison in the room and a cup and teaspoon showing traces of sediment. Hilda Christina Bunt said that James boarded at her house. Shfe found him rather eccentric. He told her he wanted a change of diet. She told him she would rather he found somewhere else to board. On the morning of May 28 she saw James lying on his bed. He was breathing in a peculiar manner. She found a note in-, dicating he had taken poison. Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurcli Public Hospital, said the cause of death was poison. The Coroner returned a verdict that James died on May 28, the cause of death being poison, self-administered.