INQUESTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1751, 17 May 1906, Page 2

INQUESTS.

(Pen Press Association.) Christchurch, last night. The adjourned inquest on the boy L. Hills, who was fatally injured by a trao* tion engine at Rotherham on May 7tb, was held this afternoon. After hearing the evidence a verdict of accidental death was relumed.

Dunedin, last night. The inquest on McKay, one of the victims of the poisoning et the Milburn lime and oement work?, was continued to* day.

Frank Oikden, general manager of the company, the principal witness, was subjected to a searching cross-examination by Mr Solomon, representing deceased’s relatives, with a view to showing that a cask which was previously used for “ Havoo " weedkiller was used by McKay and Aodereon, the other deoeased, for de« galvanising.

VERDICT IN POISONING CASE.

(Per Press Association.)

Dunedin, last night. The inqucßt touching the death of Alexander McKay (who with J. A. Anderson was the victim of acid poisoning at the Milburn lime and cement works while engaged degalvanißiDg wire) was concluded to-day.

Frank Oakden, general manager, in cross-examination, said he had no theory

to suggest as to the presenoe of weed exterminator “ Havoo ”in the mixture. He thought it absurd to suggest that 39 ounces of areenio came out of the wood of the cask.

FraLk McKay AHod, works manager, in the course of evidenoe, said ho told McKay to laks an oil cask for mixture for degalvanising. When tho last lot of 11 Havoo ” was made in February, 1905, he told McKay to work up all loose arsenic, clean up tbo plsca thoroughly, and destroy the cask used for ■’ Havoo.'’ He believed the instructions were carried out. If the oaek had not boc-n destroyed he did not know what became of it. McKay was a careful and intelligent man.

George M. Thomson, analytical ohemiet, in tbo course of evidence, sail tbe degalvanisiug process was quits harmless wherever conducted, and taero was do need for an expert being presont. If tho cask was used for oooliDg “ Havoo," and subsequently muriatic aoid put in, he would expeot to find a small quantity of areenio, but it would bo imposßtble for suoh a quantity as 3£ ounces to dissolve out of the wood.

The jury returned the following verdict: "Archibald McKay met his death from inbaling the fumes of arseurettod hydrogen, which in the opinion of the jory was generated through mixing a solution of ururiatio aoid and water iu a cask that had been previously used to mix ‘Havoo,’ a oompouud known ro contain ersenio."