DEATH BY POISON

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11831, 12 January 1933, Page 7

DEATH BY POISON

A TAN FOUND ON K A i’TI

INQUEST’ CONCLUDED

Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death nf Thomas Scott, whose body' was found among trees oh Kaiti. IT ill. just above the freezing works, on the afternoon of Thursday last, were concluded yes•tertlay before the nCting-Coroner, Afr. H. AT. Porter, J.P., and a jury of four, Afessrs. E. Gribbon (foreman), A. T. Merrylees. R. A. Aforrison find A. ‘E. Leach. A verdict that death'was duo tn poison, selfadministered, was returned.

The inquest was opened on the clay following the discovery, the evi•des'ce' of Constable G. Neale ohd Dr. R. U. Gunn'then being taken, after whi'ch a ,post-mortem examination wo ,s ordered.

Constable Nriale represented The police at the continuation of the inquest yesterday. Continuing liis evidence. Dr. Gunn stated that he carried out a nostmortein examination. The body was that of a man aged between 50 and 60. He appeared in hare been dead about' three weeks. The lining of the stomach showed necrosis and the contents gave off an. odour resembling poison found near the hody Tn his opinion ’the cause of death was the action-of ».« irritant poison. The finding of a bottle and a mug smelling nf the poison all pointed tn suicide.

Baden TTaacho. service driver, stated that on December 13 a man named Thomas Scot-6 travelled on his- car ’ from Ruatoria' to Gisborne. .Witness described the appearance of the man who ' made inquiries about foirs running to’ Napier and also left some luggage at the service co.’s office. This luggage was not called for and had since been handed over to the police.

Senior-Sorgt. Wade stated that an examination of the luggage- handed to the police showed that- the owno 1 ’ had been employed as rt. fireman on a number of vessels. A Federated SenJmen’s Union hook showed that he had enrolled as a member in 1909 and that Tie was horn at London, England, in 1878. ' There seemed no doubf, that the man found on Kaiti teas identical with the owner of the papers mentioned. This concluded the evidence. Tim jury brought in a verdict that death occurred, on o r about December 34, through poison, self, administered.