DEATH BY POISON.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXII, Issue 5724, 27 January 1876, Page 2

DEATH BY POISON.

Last night an old pensioner, named John McCleary was poisoned by drinking a quantity of carbolic acid. He resided in a house in Windsor-street, Parnell, and about halfpast seven o'clock one of his daughters came home and saw him in the act of drinking the poison. She tried to prevent him committing the rash act, but to unable. After Dr. Wright was called in and found the mail dead, ho co.nmunioated with Constable Jauk&on, l'arncll, and handed over a bottle containing a small quautity of the acid. The bottle bore the label of Mr. King, chemist, but on inquiring of him last night, he informed us that he never sold a bottle of the same pattern as that found to anybody in P.arnell, save t> Mr. Allender, soap manufacturer. The acid it contained was the impure kind generally used for disinfecting purposes, ior mixing with soap, &c. How the deceased became possessed of the bottle and the acid, Mr. King is unable to suggest. Annie McCleary states that in respect to her father's death that about half-past seveu o'clock when she was coming in at the front door she saw her father sitting in the front room with a bottle and tumbler in his hands which contained carbolic acid. He was in the act of drinking it. She knew the liquid was carbolic acid by the smell. He had about a tablespoonful of the poison in a tumbler. She did her utmost to prevent him taking it, but was unable. Dr. Wright was at once sent for who was immediately in attendance, bufc anuouncad that life was extinct when he arrived. The unfortunate man is reported to have been drinking heavily for some time past. An inquest wiil probibly be held to-day to inquire into the circumstances attending his death. Ho Wc>s about oO years of age.