THE WELD'S HILL TRAGEDY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXII, Issue 29, 4 February 1897, Page 2

THE WELD'S HILL TRAGEDY.

An inquest on the body of the late Ernest James Finney was held at Weld's Hill yesterday, before Mr R. D. Nosworthy, Acting Coroner, and the following jury : — John Brown (foreman), Henry Maurice, Robert John Watson, Frederick Montgomery, William Perry, and Edwin Elsmore. After the jury had viewed the body, James Brown, shepherd at Weld's Hill, deposed he had known deceased for the last five years. He last saw him alive at 1.25 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Deceased then spoke to him, complaining of excessive pains caused by convulsive fits, and said he had taken " Toxa," and that a letter addressed to Mr Young would be found m the inside pocket of his coat. He said good-bye to all hands, and thanked his mates for their attention. He asked that when he was buried his hat should be placed m his coffin and a tin of toxa at his feet, and that his blankets should be burnt. Witness sent word to Mr' Young, manager of the station, that deceased had taken toxa. He assisted to bring the corpse m from Upton Fells, where deceased died, about four miles from the home station. In answer to the foreman, witness said deceased stated he owed George Hassell ten shillings, and the storekeeper at Weld's Hill for a store account, which he wished Mr Young to pay. Deceased did not appear depressed m spirits ; he was always very quiet. Dr Alexander, sworn, said he had made a post mortem examination of the body, and from the symptoms described to him and the appearance of the body, he concluded that it was a case of strychnine poisoning. The analysis of the contents of the stomach failed to reveal the presence of the poison, but this might be due to the poison being all absorbed, which happens when death is delayed beyond the usual period, and the method of analysis was necessarily rough. Replying to a question by the foreman, the doctor said death usually resulted, after taking strychnine, m from half an hour to two hours. There were no marks on the body except the effects of decomposition. Arthur West and Edward West gave evidence corroboratory of Mr Brown's. George Hassell also gave corroboratory evidence, and stated that Finney got out of bed about 9.45 on Monday night and went outside. He was gone about a quarter of an hour. About 11.80 he cried out he was poisoned. Thought he was dreaming. Deceased was then taken outside by Richard Atwood and Arthur West. Witness went outside and found the tin of toxa. It had been recently opened and disturbed. Procured some salt water and salad oil, and mixed it for an emetic, but deceased could not swallow it. Finney wished them all goodbye and hoped they would have a better end. Richard Atwood and James Hardy also gave evidence. Constable Price said he searched the clothing of deceased and produced the letters found on the body. In them deceased said he was tired of life and had a great disappointment. Nobody was to blame but himself. He asked that the letter be given to Mr Young, thanked all for what they had done for him, and wishing them goodbye hoped they would come to a better end than he had. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from the effects of "toxa" poisoning, self-administered whilst m a state of temporary insanity. The funeral of deceased took place at the Awatere yesterday evening.