INQUEST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5601, 6 February 1879, Page 6

INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday in the Ashburton Hotel, on the body of Oliver Goldsmith Colville Armstrong, found dead on Tuesday, in the above hotel, before Dr Trevor and a jury, of whom Mr Ben. Williamson was chosen foreman. After viewing the body the following evidence was submitted to the jury: Duncan M'Kenzie, landlord of the Ashburton Hotel, said the deceased came to bis house early in the forenoon of Monday, the 3rd inst. He bought a flask of brandy. Saw him in the afternoon again about four o’clock. He was not under the influence of drink. He had been about the house on other occasions, but never exhibited any peculiarity of conduct or appearance. He had a glass of beer on Monday morning. He did not ask for a bed on Monday evening, and (he next time witness saw him on the following morning was lying on the bed in No. 11 room, quite dead, ana completely dressed. Nothing about the body or the room had been touched when the police came, and the phials produced Were lying—the chloral nhial under the bed, and the chlorodyne phial on the looking glass on a ohair by the bed. _ The unopened bottle of citrate of magnesia was alio on the looking glass, and the unopened flask of brandy was in his pocket. His attention was called to the deceased by Mary Riley, the housemaid. Deceased showed no appearance of depression* of spirits. He did not engage a room, and went straight up to No. 11 room without the knowledge of anyone in the house. .Things were very quiet, and the rooms were not inspected at night. Had no knowledge that deceased was in the house at all. Charles Neate, chemist and druggist, sworn, deposed: Deceased came to ma shop on Monday last at half-past 9 o’olook a,m., and asked for some hydrate of chloral, which he refused, because it was a poison sold under the “ Sale of Poisons Act." Told him that be could have Hunter’s solution of chloral, which is sold as a patent medicine. Deceased said ho had been drinking, and was about to return to oamp, and wanted something to take with him to make him sleep.at mghti He was perfectly sober, and told him (witness) that he understood the nature of ohloral, and was ih the habit of taking it. Full instructions were given to deceased as to how he was to take the Hunter’s solution. By Coroner t

Patent medicine* do not co^TTt^ «Sale of Poisons Act” ffie Uti <W the 0. J. Truckle deposed that dm. , him -ho would see the banker *■» f s *? h>l4 Witness nnderatood that dm.!. , ei l«e. generated from hi* wife on account, drinking habita, and that hi* wife L! 1 ot h >« from Sydney ehortly. Did not M; lpecte( l deceased meant to destroy himself Ye the Mrs Match, landlady of the i.u Hotel, deposed that ahe aaw the rt ° 11 between 7 and 8 on the evening of i? eas<: 4 He asked for a clean glass. He » 0 \ at the foot of the and went unt He wefted quite sensible, and talked .. dally. Never a»w him again alive latloll- - M*Bean Stewart deposed that i., duly-qualified medical practitioner Tf * the deceased,and had attended bim , ew three weeks ago. He then compk;^ a>J ? ut serere irritation of the akin. wSciS of 1 him from sleeping. Witnei chloral and opium on different occSfoJ 1 ? 4 Mm. by prescription and f ro “ . f . ot chemist. The deceased was an educate lhe and seemed to be acquainted with the ties of chloraL Made a post mortem tion- to-day. There was a considerable hZT about the face, chest, and bowels 4] J were no marts of violence of anv kinrl „ ~r e body. On opening the thorax and aMr™ there was a strong smell of chloral n" right lung was gorged with blood; was healthy, but was also slightly There was blood in the cavities of the 8 hi* partly clotted and partly fluid, otherwise ft heart was strong and healthy. The liver ot normal sire, but brittle and inclined to*? fatty, and the spleen wag smaller than ■ generally found. There was some p£i“ digested food in the stomach, which sm/u very stronglyof chloral. The kidneys w, r ! congested. Witness did not open the skull The Coroner thenght this should be 0 ‘ and Dr Stewart made the examination amt continued.

; Had examined the brain, which healthy, but the blood-vessels on the surfa» were partially gorged with blood. He would attribute death to an overdose of chloral and chlorodyne. After taking such a dose as the deceased had taken, death would result in about an hour. No person knowing the properties of those drugs would take two ounce bottles of them at one time, unless he meant to commit suicide.

The j ary returned a yerdiet of “ Death from an overdose of chloral taken accidentally.’’