THE LATE MR EDMUND BLACK.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7498, 18 October 1895, Page 2

THE LATE MR EDMUND BLACK.

THE INQUEST.

Mr F. Suttan, J.P., deputy coroner, held an enquiry into the eirenmstanoee attending Mr Edmund Black's death yesterday afternoon at deceased's late residence, Taradale. The following comprised the jury:—Messrs 3. Goulding (foreman), H. B. White, H Gebbie, B. J. Neagle, V. Palmer, and AT." Quino. Constable Eutledge conduoted the enquiry, on bshalf of the polioe, and oalled evidence as follows : — Jane Hester Black, the wife of deceased, • deposel that her husband went to the raoes on Wednesday in hie usual spirits. They were joking away at the breakfast table, and sne had no reaeon to suspect that anything was wrong Saw him oome home on Wednesday mght; thought it was about 11 o clock; notioed nothing the matter with him then. Did not hear him get up, but when she woke at 7 o'clook he had gone out. It fitiuok her that tomething was wrong, and asked the girl if she had seen Mr Black go out, and ehe replied that she had not. Told her to run round and look for him in the stable, where he was in the habit of grooming his horsea in the morniu£. Ihe girl found him thtre, and oame baok and told her (witness's) brother, who informed her that her husband was dead. Kato Sl'Oiillum, servant in the employ of the deceased, depoFed that Mre Black oalled hor shortly after 7 yesterday tnorninir to look for Mr Blac*. Looking in the stable she saw him lyinj* dead, aud told Mr Lamb • did not eoe tho deceased before that. ' Frank Lamb deposed that he was a brother of Mra Blacir, aud on Wednesday night stayed in the house. That morning the last wnaesa oamo and told him that she beliavod Mr Black was dead. Went out to the ttible, and found him lying in a natural position on the stable floor, as if asleep Touohed his faoa and found that he was dead ; at once reported the matter to the police. Saw him alive last Wednesday morning at breakfast time, and he was then quite cheerful. Was present when Con-.. stable Eutledge searohed the body. Among other artiolea in his pockets was a BEjall blue bottle labelled "poison," but no. memoranda expressing his intention of com-, mitting euicide.

Alexander itcoles, chemist, deposed that abont 20 minutea to 8 o'clook on Wednesday night deceased came to him and asked that he might be supplied with some poison " for a dog which he said had got run over by one of the 'bussas. He said the dog was a valuable one left in hia charge, and he wondered what the oivoer would think at it-t loss Tol4 him he would give him pruesic aoid, whioh witness thought would be the most effective poison. The aoid waa contained in a bottle exactly similar to that produced. He signed the usual receipt in. toe poieon regiter Ueoeased was perfeotly Bober at thia time, and in his usual good spirits. Had known him for 13 years, and. always knew him to have been of temperate habits and cheerful disposition. .Dr. ii. Menzies depoeed on Thursday morning he made a post mortem on the body of deceased ; found the body fully dressed. The face was placid, the eyes open, and the budy scarcely cold. He looked so natural that witness could hardly believe he was dead until he asbured himself of the fact by means of hie ttethtsoope. On examining the Btomaoh he found prussio aoid preeent Was of opinion that the death of the deoeased was sudden and painless, and caused, by swallowing prussio aiod. Conttable isutledge corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. The bottleproduoed was empty, and wae in his right hand coat pocket. The jury returned the following verdict* " I'hat the deoeased Edmund Black died at I'aradale on the 17th October, 1895, that the cause oi death was ptussio aoid, salfadmiuistered. The jury do not think that any blame reats upon any other peßS3in^-^_^