INQUEST.

Evening Star, Issue 9387, 8 May 1894, Page 4

INQUEST.

At the inquest held yesterday afternoon on the body of James Murphy, whose body was found on .Sunday near high-water mark at Anderson Hay, the evidence of George Elson went to show. that deceased was an Irishman, and lived in one of witness's cottages in Walker street for about twelve months. He was a single man, a laborer, and was missed from his house on the 23rd ult. On the Saturday week after deceased was missed a letter addressed to the inspector of police was found in his cottage. The letter was dated on the 24th ult., and the writer charged four persons with being responsible for his death, and expressed a hope that God would have mercy on their souls. John Rentoul, assistant to Mr Loasby, chemist, said that deceased went twice N to the Bhop on Sunday, the 22nd of last month, and asked for Is worth of laudanum. Witness told him he could not supply him unless he had witnesses, and ho then went away and came back in the evening with two men, and again asked him for laudanum. On being asked what he wanted the laudanum for deceased replied that he wanted it to make him sleep. He was then supplied with the laudanum, and told not to take more than fifteen drops. Murphy and one of the witnesses sigucd the poison book.—John Galbraith, who accompanied deceased to the chemist's, said that he (deceased) seemed quite sensible.—Dr Martin deposed that he attended deceased eight or ten months ago, and last saw him about the 23rd of August. He was a hypochondriac, and fancied he had a great many complaints, but they were imaginary. That was often the first indication of insanity. If deceased did write the document produced he (Dr Martin) would think he was of unsound mind at the time when he wrote it." The body mußt have been in the water over a week. WitneßS could not say whether the body was alive or dead when it went into the water.—The jury returned an open verdict.