THE TEMUKA. SENSATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9488, 10 August 1891, Page 2

THE TEMUKA. SENSATION.

For several months past rumours, more or less startling, have prevailed m Scuta Canterbury about the affairs of &«}•-*» Mr John Hay hurst, who died at Temuxa rather moro than two years ago. uom I tho last few weeks one ol tnose assumed definite shape, for it became known trniu an order hsd bean issued ror tne exhumation of Mr Hayhurst’s body, wifcn tho view of holding an inquest thereon. John Havhurac was a Manchester man, and was born in 1823, bis father being a farmer. When about IG years old, ins cnercetic nature led him to seek his fortune m Australia. He was poor, hut pluokv, and it is said taau ne reached tho laud cf his desire by “stowing away” on a ship bound for Sydney. On arriving in Now South Yales he was soon at work-—he took the first work offered him; but after a few months decided to come to New Zealand* He did so, and spent some years working in the bush in the North Island. What he did he did with i his might, and ho kept hie eyes very 1 widely ’open for any chance of improving j himself. He thougl.it he saw ono in Canterbury when the first four ships arrived at Lvttedtou. To Canterbury became, aud took a ’contract to out timber from the bush, and make wheelbarrows for the contractors for the Sumner road. After this he took to bush work ofl Banks Peninsula, and while there he met the lady who, on the death of her first husband, became his wife. From the Peninsula he wont to Christchurch, where, with Mr W. Gosling, now a resident of Timnru, he worked in the old Market Place smithy. His mechanical talents, it may be said, were equal to his energy and foresight, and this happy combination of: characteristics rendered him admirably fitted to fight the battle of life iu a now country. While iu Christchurch, happened an event which marked tho turning point iu his life. Sir Thomas Tancred engaged Mr and Mrs Hayhurst us married couple on big citation at Ashburton. Here his energy and ability asserted themselves in a congenial field; he proved “the right man in tbe right place,” and rose so rapidly in the estimation of his employer and iu wealth, that Sir Thomas, on leaving Canterbury for a trip Home, sold him the station on terms. Hie affairs now prospered exceedingly; ho became sole owner of tho station on which he had been employed ; ho obtained laud in the Mackenzie Country and about Temuka. After many successful ventures bo settled drum at tho latter place, added to hia possessions there, and formed the wellknown Greenhayes Estate, which, it has been said, hss an annual rent-roll of some £SOOO,

Early in 1859, Mr and Mrs Hayhurst paid a visit to the Old Country. Up to this time, it may be remarked, none of their children had lived longer than a few months. In September, 18G0, they left England on their return voyage in {the Chile, Captain Turnbull, Mrs HayI hurst bringing a Miss Murray with her as a companion. During the voyage, on Nov. IG, Mrs Hayhurst bore a son; he was christened John Turnbull Murray Hayhnrsfc, and is the present owner of the Greenhayes Estate. For several years Mr Hayhurst worked hard on his property at Greenhayes. He then, with his wife and son, paid a short visit to England. A few years later they made another trip, and his son was left in tho Old Country to be educated. Some time later Mr Hayburet went to England alone. He then spent several years away from the Colony, which, however, he visited at intervals. Hi? last return was in 1888. He applied himself with his usual energy to managing the affairs of his large property, and iu the early part of 1839 he was engaged in superintending the erection of a grain store at Temnka, and of a mill, which had been removed from Milford to the Temuka river. He several times stood waist deep in the water directing the operations, and is supposed to have received a chili which had fatal results. At all! events, he was taken seriously ill on Monday, April 1; next day it was announced that he was very bad; on the Thursday it was reported that he was

slightly better; but on the Friday ho died, at the age or sixty-one years. Ho was attended by Dr J. S. Hayes, who gave a certificate stating the cause of death to have been uraemia, the duration of his last illness five days, that he had been last seen by hia medical attendant on April 5, the day on which he died. Tho Registrar’s certificate gives the further information that the deceased was married at Manchester at the age of thiity-two years, to Jane Startup, and that his surviving issue was one son, twenty-eight years of age. Mr Hayhursfc’s funeral took place on Sunday, April 7, 1889, and started from his house on the Main road, Temuka, where he had been living with his wife. His eon, who had married a few years before his father’s death, lived in tho meantime on the Greenhayes Estate, and in course’ of time took possession of the property under a will signed some years previously. Last year the now owner of the estate was unpleasantly surprised by the arrival from England of-a lady who claimed to be tho legal with of tho late Mr Hayhurst, and asserted that he was the father of two children, some eight or nine years | old, who, she said, had bseu born after tho marriage. She claimed the property of the deceased, and made certain representations', which led ultimately to an issue of an order by tho Colonial Secretary for the exhumation of the body.

THE EXHUMATION AND INQUEST. The inquest on the body of the late Mr John Hayhurst was opened at tho Crown Hotel, Temuka, on Tuesday, July 21, at 9 a.m., before E. Beetham, Ihq., and a Jury composed of Mr J. W. Miles (Foreman), and Messrs J. Sim, P. Coira, F. Archer. W. Storey, and G. Storey. Mr Martin, Crown Solicitor, was present, as was Mr J. T. M. Hayhurst, son oT. the deceased.

[ Mr Beetham said that the papers i | connection with the case had been laid ’ before him, and, under the circumstances, | he had concluded it was best to hold an j inquest. It was nob proposed to lay any evidence before the Jury at this time, ! but a post-mortem had been ordered, and an analysis would be made. The Jury would ho called together again, and then the whole of the evidence which could bo obtained by the police would be laid before them. The Jury were then driven to the cemetery to view the body. 1 The exhumation began at five minutes to eight. Those present were Mr Martin, Crown Solicitor; Mr White, solicitor for Air J. T. M. Hayhurst and the family; Mr Postlethwaite, of Hay and Fostlethwaite, solicitor for Mrs Estelle Hayhurst, the lady who has come from England claiming to be deceased’s wife; Bra Ogston and J. 0. Guthrie, who have been ordered to make the post-mortem; Dr Hayes, with Dr Thomas, of Timaru, and Dr Jeffcoat, on behalf of the Hayhurst family; Dr Lovegrove, on behalf of Mrs Satells Hayhurst; Dr Barclay; Professor Black, who is to make tho analysis; Mr Beckingham, the undertaker who conducted the funeral or deceased; Inspector Pender, Sergeant-major Mason, and several constables and representatives of tho Press. A constable was stationed at tho gate to prevent tho entrance of persons not requiring entrance on business. It took an hour to uncover the coffin, which was buried over six feet deep. Tho grave was dry, and there was but little offensive smell. At half-past nine the Coroner and Jury arrived dn the ground, with Mrs Parke, the deceased’s sister, and Mrs Copostake, formerly companion to Airs Hay burst, who were summoned to identify tho body. On their arrival, the coffin was raised and taken irto a marquee, erected at the head of tbe grave, where it was opened. The body, which was wrapped in cotton wool, was so decomposed that the face was not recognisable, but Mrs Parke recognised it by the shape of the head and by the right hand, of which the little and fourth fingers were contracted.

Mr Beckiagham said that : / he bad ■wrapped the body in cotton wool. | Mr Martin said ti;erc were several medical gentlemen present representing the parties interested in the case, and ho would, therefore, ask the Coroner’s direc- j tion as to who were to touch the body. j The Coroner replied that only Dra Ogotoa and Guthrie, who had been ordered to mako the post-mortem, and Professor I Black would*be allowed to touch the! remains. !

Mr Martin asked who were to be allowed j to take charge of any portion of the body, j The Coroner said that Drs Ogston and | Guthrie were to give whatever parts were j required for analysis to Professor Black. I Other medical gentlemen, properly authorised, might be present and might indicate j what portion they wished removed for | analysis by Professor Black. j Samples of earth, from above and below the coffin, were taken for analysis by Professor Black. The Coroner and .Jury drove back to the hotel, where the inquest was adjourned to August 4, the Jury being bound over to attend in their own recognisances of £SO each. The medical men proceeded with the post-mortem, after which the body was re-interred. Though great interest is taken in the case, there were very few people present at the inquest. THE ADJOURNED INQUEST. The inquest on the body of the late John Hay hurst was resumed before R. Bcetham, Esq,, at 9 • a.m., at the Crown Hotel, Temuka, on Tuesday, August 4, and was immediately adjourned to the Courthouse, a more convenient room. Mr J. C. Martin represented the Crown. Inspector Pender was present on behalf -of the Police. Mr Postlethwaite represented Mrs Estelle Hay hurst, the English claimant to the position of the deceased’s widow; and Mr J. T. M. Hay hurst, son of the deceased, was present. The Coroner opened the proceedings by saying that the Jury had to inquire solely into the death of John Hayhiirst. 'With other matters and rumours that had appeared, in papers and elsewhere, they had nothing to do. Mr Martin said that the post-mortem and analysis had proved beyond a doubt that Mr Hay hurst died a natural death. A chemist of the greatest experience had tested the remains for every known poison. The medical gentleman who attended Mr >i ay hurst in his last illness had given an opinion aa.to the cause of death, which had been confirmed by the result of the postmortem. Certain statements had, as was known, been made to the Crown which bad necessitated the matter being brought before the Coroner, and the body being exhumed; with the result be had stated. He had not much evidence to call. Every opportunity had been given to other parties interested, inducting Mrs Estelle Hay hurst, to be represented during the, proceedings, and, if they, or any parson, were able to throw any light on the matter of Mr Hayhursb’s death, they might come forward and do so. He called

James Edward Eeekiagham, undertaker, i Timaru, who deposed : I buried Mr Haybiurst, and placed him in his coffin. The j body exhumed a fortnight ago was hia. j Catherine Copestake: I reside in Temuka. ! I came out in the same ship with Mr John : Hayhurat. He was hale and strong shortly before his death. Shortly before being taken ill ho complained of a dead weight across ! hia stomach. I did not hear him complain of illness some years before. He complained of a dead weight about a month before his last illness, and was gradually getting thinner. He had ceen great privation and worked very hard in hia early days. On Monday, April 1, 1889, he came to my house and said he had been taken ill that morning at the mill. He stayed a short time, and went away apparently all right. I went to see him at his house the next afternoon, and found him in bed. He seemed quite prostrate, and said he had been vomiting all day. He said he had not been ill in the night, but became sick after having breakfast, for which he had had porridge. I asked if the porridge tasted different and be said “ No/* I asked him if the milk was different, and he said he did not take milk. He said that Dr Hayes had been called. in in the morning. Only Mrs Hayhurst and myself were in the house with him then. I asked him to take his medicine, and he said, “ Let mo be till the doctor comes; I am so exhausted.” I did not give him any medicine. Dr Hayes came about six in the evening. Mr Hayhurst was retching. While the doctor was there he complained of pain in his head and stomach. Dr Hayes was very angry because the medicine had not been taken, and got Mr Hayhurst to take some. During the night the sickness continued. He went on taking the medicine, and by the morning the sickness had ceased. It did not occur again. I was up with Mr Hayhurst the whole night. There were no other symptoms, except sickness and violent pain in the stomach and head. Dr Hayes came about seven on Wednesday morning, and said it was a thousand pities the medicine had not been given earlier, and that valuable time had been lest. I do not remember Mr Hayhurst complaining of much pain on the Wednesday, but he was restless. Dr Hayes came again that 'evening. I was up w.ith Mr Hayhurst on Wednesday night. He attempted to get out of bed. He seemed to be giddy and fell. His getting up was so sudden that it took us by surprise. He threw off the bed clothes, turned round, thrust bis feet out and fell suddenly and violently forward. I was with him till about midday on Thursday. I thought him better. I did not see him again alive. Mr Hayhurst did not tell me anything; but when Mrs John Hayhurat, hia son’s wife, asked him what he said “The doqtor says'it’s like poison.” On Tuesday, evening, when I went there, there was some chicken broth ready for him. More was made afterwards. I told Mrs John Hayhurst what tho doctor had said, and she said that she would take care that food was freshly,cooked for him. We were all on the look-out for poison, and took care that his food was freshly cooked. I know Mr Hayhurat’a handwriting. The letter produced is in bis handwriting. Dr Hayes: I was medical attendant to the Hayhurst family for eight or nine years. The first important illness of the deceased for w Inch I attended him was an apoplectic attack eight years before his death. He was attacked and became unconscious while driving to Greenhayes and had paralysis of one side, one arm and: leg, which, more especially the leg, never j came back to their natural condition. In I attacks of that kind the mind is consider-1 ably affected, and certain mental qualities aro impaired. After recovery from that attack hia memory was impaired, and be became more impatient at trifles. Soon after that be went to America or England. On his return I met him in the street, and ! he said he had been taking medicine off and on, and had consulted Dr Beaney. In December, 1888, he consulted me, complaining of general debility, saying that he was getting thinner, and softening and losing muscular power, that he became breathless on the slightest exertion, and was subject to faintness. I examined his heart, and concluded that he had a dilated and fatty degenerated heart. I told him that he would have to conserve his energies and take life easily. Ha did not follow my advice. I did not think he would, as I had attended him previously, and he had not done so then. Afterwards I saw him standing up to his middle in the Temuka river, directing some men who -were making a dam. I next saw him professionally, on the morning of April 2, 1889. He said he hod started to vomit shortly after breakfast, without any reason he knew of. He said he had porridge for breakfast. He seemed very much shaken. I prescribed a mixture, consisting of subnitrate of bismuth, carbonate of potassium, compound spirits of chloroform, mucilage and water, eight , ounces in all, to be taken I think, every one or two hours in tablespoonful doses, each of which would contain about half a drachm of bismuth and ten grains of carbonate of potassium. I returned about three or four in the afternoon, and Mrs Copestake was there.

There was no one in the house,, but Mrs Hsyhurst, senior, when I called the first time. When I called the second time he was still vomiting, and I said to Mrs Copestake, “ I don’t like the look of this. Is it likely that he got any poison in his porridge accidentally? Do you think it likely he has taken poison himself ?” She said " I don’t think he is the sort of man to do that.” I said " What sort of utensils do you use here for cooking your food,” and went into the kitchen and looked at the cooking apparatus to sea if there were any dirty copper sauce* pens or anything of that sort. 1 ssked Mrs Copcsftake whether there was any arsenic i or vermin poison about, which, could get I into the food. She said she did not know, i I asked Mrs Hayhurst, senior, if shejiad | any poison in the house and she said 1 "no,” but mentioned that Mr Hay hurst | had kept strychnine for dogs a long ago. Symptoms of poisoning would bo quite different from his. Arsenic has sometimes been used in mistake for salt or bicarbonate of soda. I fjiund no poison, and took some of his vomit away and tested it for arsenic and antimony. I used Reinsch’s test and got negative results. I had said to Mrs Copestake, " You bo particularly careful about what food he gets.” I looked upon her as nurse in charge, 1 told her to give him sodawater and, if that was retained, a little milk. I also told young Mr Hayhuret that it looked like symptoms of irritant poisoning. I told wo one else. I went to see deceased again. I examined him very carefully and concluded he was not suffering from poisoning. I diagnosed the case as one of ursamia. I found on my second visit that he had not taken his medicine. I then gave it him myself. Mrs Copestake asked me if I still thought it a case of poisoning. I said, “Yes; not from anything he has taken, but on account of the kidneys not performing their functions.” He suffered from vomiting, intense dull pain over the forehead and vertex, debility, restlessness, quick pulse, muscular twitching, and somnolence, finally merging into coma. These are symptoms of anemia. The advent of urEemia in this case did nob altogether surprise me. In addition to bismuth I treated him with antipyrine, digitalineandinjection of chloral hydrate. I gave ■a certificate of death from ursemia. I was present at the post-mortem onthe body, and what I saw confirmed the diagnosis I had made in his lifetime. I am still of opinion that he died of uraemia. I have seen cases of poisoning from strychnine* arsenic and fungus; so that poison cases were not new to me. When I saw deceased the second time on the Tuesday I asked him if he had suffered in that way before. He said he had. I told the family that he was very ill, and .that I would bo happy to meet any other medical man they might wish to call iu.

Dr J. O. Guthrie :-1 have/ heard Mr Hay burst's symptoms described by the other witnesses. In conjunction with. Dr Ogston, I made a post-mortem examination of the body. Prom what I have heard and seen I have formed an opinion as to the cause of death* There was evidence at the post-mortenrpf disease, of the kidneys, enlargement and dilation of the heart at the expense of its >svalls, which were very thin. There was extensive fatty degeneration of the heart and disease of the large blood vessels. The lungs showed evidence of disease, especially theMpffc, which exhibited signs of recent inflammatory action on the lining membrane dvf the lung—pleurisy. There was a small' cavity in this lung. The right lung showed evidence of old pleurisy; there were adhesions binding it to the chest. The kidneys were both diseased, especially the left, in which there was a small cyst. I think it probable that the ultimate cause of death was disease of those organs, accelerated by pleurisy and a weak and dilated heart. There was nothing wrong in Dr Hayes* certificate of death. Uraemia would be the popular way of describing the disease. Dr Hayes* treatment, as described by him, was undoubtedly proper. The quantity of bismuth ‘ prescribed by him was not at all large. Double that dose is sometimes ! given to children—-sixty grains every hour for a limited period. Bismuth ia hardly ever got pure. One of the' chief impurities is arsenic, but the quantities of that m it are very small. Bismuth, taken as a medicine, is partially absorbed, but is generally caked in large quantities in the intestines. If Professor 1 Black says he found bismuth in small | quantities in the kidneys and in large j quantities in the intestines, it would be j just what I would expect. I have * nob heard anything in the evidence, nor j seen anything in the post-mortem conj siatent with poisoning*. The body was | well preserved. The intestines, stomach, j and organs generally were intact. Professor Black; lam Doctor of Science of the Edinburgh University and Professor of Chemistry at Otago University. I was present at the exhumation of Mr Hayhurst’a body and received direct from Drs Ogston and Guthrie various organs which I analysed. Prom the time those organa were taken from the body till I analysed them no person could have tampered with them. I searched carefully for all metallic poisons and all vegetable alkaloid poisons, which two classes include all poisons known as such. I made very special search for arsenic. I found a very minute trace of arsenic in a largo quantity of material. I used about 2Jib 'of material for my arsenic testing. Those materials were most likely to contain arsenic, if any were present, and included large parts of the intestinal canal, parts of the brain, spinal cord, liver, kidneys and the spleen of the stomach and duodenum. In all this I found very minute traces of arsenic. I can weigh one-thousandth part of a grain on : my best balance, and I could not weigh | that arsenic; it was so small. By j the test I used the least trace of | arsenic was hound to be found. I found I bismuth, as much as would make 2v|grs of the subnitrate. I have no doubt that the trace of arsenic found was contained as an impurity in the bismuth salts, which usually contain traces of arsenic. That was all in the \ nature of poison I could find. About 2grs of arsenic would be a dangerous 1 dose. Had there been two thousand times as much found as I found, it might ho a dangerous dose. In the whole body there might, perhaps, have been something leas than a three hundredth part of a grain. Medical preparations of bismuth usually contain a minute trace of arsenic as an impurity. Had arsenic been administered I should expect to find it in the body after decomposition, though there have been such cases in which it has not been found by analysis. The Coroner said that certain disquieting rumours had arisen that had rendered it necessary for. an investigation into the death of the late Mr Hayhurst to be made, and the Jury would agree with him that a fuller investigation could not have been made. Ha had summoned to conduct that investigation gentlemen of known standing from other parts of the Colony, not connected with this district at all. The result of their inquiries showed thatthere wasno sign of poisoning, for the arsenic discovered was evidently an impurity in the bismuth. As to,deceased's illness, the statements of Mrs Copestake and Dr Hayes agreed. Deceased’s symptoms at one time made Dr Hayes think that poison might have been accidentally administered, for there was nothing to show that the doctor indicated that any person had intentionally given deceased poison. The doctor then changed his mind, and decided there was no poisoning. His diagnosis of urmmia had been confirmed, two years after deceased’s death, by two independent medical men. From Dr Hayes’ remarks, and natural and reasonable enquiries as to poisoning, made very properly under the circumstances, had grown these rumours, which it was the duty of the authorities to have settled; and the result of the present investigations was a final arbitrament on the question. Under all the circumstances could the Jury say anything else than that the death was natural, and in accordance with Dr Hayes’ certificate ? The Jury, after a retirement of five minutes, returned with a verdict of “ Death from natural causes—uraemia." The Court was crowded during the hearing.