INQUEST AT AUCKLAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 50, 1 March 1905, Page 5

INQUEST AT AUCKLAND.

fBT TBLEOnAril — I'BESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 28th February. An inquest opened at the hospital today into the death of Walter Wluto (who was awaiting trial at tho Supremo Court on a serious chnrgc). Tho Coroner stated thnt tho case was ono for adjournment, as the contents of tho stomach of doecMbod would hnvo to be submitted to tho Public Analyst. Poisoning was biispectcd. Peter tiardiu>r, storoman, residing at Noillu'nte, wild tho chargo soemoa to be preying on deceased's mind, but not to n serious oxtent. During tho twenty yeais witness had known him, deceased nlways bo'ro a good charhctor. Docensed v was Virst taken ill on 30th January, and witness went with him to tho hospital. Ho lvmainod thero a week. Deceased next absented himself from witness's hmisn from 17th February ulittl tho 19th. On the morning of which dato witness reported to tho polico that ho wns missing, being found in soino ti-trco near witness's placo. Ho was ngnin ill, nnd was lajtcn lo tho hospitnl, whero ho died. » Dr. Moir deposed to having performed n post-mortem examination. Tho stomacli nnd other organs presented appearances that one would expect to find rosulting from irritant poisoning. Dr. Ferguson said that tho first timo deceased was admitted to tho hospital ho Stated ho had taken somo bnd fish or meat. On tho second occasion decoased told witness ho lmd takon tinned meat. Tho symptoms mndo witness suspicious. On being questioned docoased denied having taken nn irntant, nnd consequently no antidoto could be administer* od. Witness wns present at tho postmortem, and it confirmed his opinion that death was duo to irritant poisoning. The inquest was adjourned until 14th March, ponding tho report of the Government Analyst.