A SOUTHLAND TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1792, 25 June 1906, Page 2

A SOUTHLAND TRAGEDY.

POISONED BY ALCOHOL.

.(Per Press Association.) Invercargill, last night.

At the inquest on the body of James Anderson Brass, railway fireman, it was Bhown that the young fellow, who was not addicted to taking liquor, met three mates last Saturday night. They vieited one hotel, and one of the mateß advised Brass not to drink. He said he had a bad cold and would take brandy and portwine to drive it out. He took liquor in large quantities, eight glasses in all, in two hotels within an hour and a half, but witnesses said he showed no sign of drunkenness till he oame out to the street, where he collapsed. A cab was got, and Brass sent home. Reaching there the driver found him helpless, and partly carried him inside of the gate. He then went to the house door, whioh was not opened to the knook, but someone spoke. Having told them that he had brought home a man, he was told that it could be no one who lived in the house if he was drunk. The cabman’s horse having become restive, ho went to secure it, and on the supposition that the man was merely dead drunk, drove away. Brass lay 20 minutes outside before being seen. All the witnesses, including the cabmaD, said that if they had suspeoted the man to be suffering from anything more than the Sect of liquor they would have got a doctor, and would not have let him go home alone. Medical evidence was that death was due to acute alcoholic poisoning. The organs wore not all in a healthy condition, the lungs showing traces of influenza, but nothing to account for the death except the quantity of liquor oonsumed in the brief timo. Had a medical man been called there was every likelihood the man would have recovered. Lying exposed on the grass was also detrimental. The coroner, Mr McCarthy, S.M„ spoke strongly, but admitted that it was easy to be wise after the event, and deoeased’s mates had not shown any inhumanity, but they might have seen him home. He blamed the publican who gave six drinks of strong liquor to a mau within an hour.

The jury found that death was due to acute alcohol quick poisoning.