THE INQUEST.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 41, 18 February 1907, Page 5

THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held at 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon at the Mahakipawa Hotel before Mr Scott Smith, Coroner, on the body of Frank Sparks. Ser-geant-Major Mason represented the police and Mr Halkett was chosen foreman of the jury. Charles Webbly said that on Friday at 1 o'clock deceased, who had been mustering sheep on the hills, came to where he was working at Cullensville and said that he was thirsty. Deceased was quite sober at the time. Witness replied "All right, I have some cold tea. Come and have a drink." There were several bottles of cold tea lying near to some timber, and about four feet away there was another bottle of similar size almost fulL of inurbane, or oil of almonds, the colour of which resembled cold tea, excepting that it was thicker and darker. Witness went for a pannikin to pour some tea out for Sparks, and when turning round saw deceased with the bottle of inurbane to his lips. He said: "That is not tea, Frank," and Sparks replied, " I know, I have only just tasted it." He then drank some tea and went away mustering. Sparks could not have drunk more than a spoonful of the oil of almonds, but an hour and a half after deceased came down the hill and went to Mr Cullen's, where he saw Detective Siddels, who was on leave from Wanganui. The detective noticed that he looked pale and asked what was the matter, to which deceased replied that he felt dizzy and was losing his sight. He also told the detective that he had been drinking some stuff. Siddels at once gave him some mustard and hot water, causing him to vomit. He also gave him salt water and other remedies. Deceased left, somewhat better, for the hotel. There he saw Mr Coleman, the licensee of the. hotel, who also noticed that he looked bad and asked what was the deceased to the hotel, and when Coleman telegraphed for Dr. Williams, at Havelock.- ■ Detective Siddels followed deceased to the Hotel, and when Coleman returned from the telegraph office emetics were administered, causing deceased to vomit freely. He however, gradually got weaker and weaker, and when the doctor arrived was practically unconscious. The doctor did all that he.could, but he ' never recovered consciousness and died at1 about 9 o'clock. : •.:

Detective Siddels, in his evidence, stated that he questioned deceased as to how he got into his-cbndition, and he told him that he had taken a small quantity of stuff at Webley's, which heimistook for tea, and-which did not affect him till, about an .hour and a half after he had taken it. "'''■.

Dr. Williams said that.if tli3 remedies which were applied had been applied earlier they would have been effective. Oil of almonds contained cyanide of' prulsic - acid, which is a deaOly noison.

Mr Cawte said that he was agent for the sale cf inurbane, or oil of aJrnonds, which is used in connection with an explosive named " rendrock," and that the explosive cannot be used except in conjunction with murbane, the cartridge having first to be soaked in the oil, after which it explodes like dynamite. It is ineffective without imniersion in the oil and otherwise quite harmless and useless. He said he had no knowledge that the liquid was poisonous, consequently it was not marked as poison. He sold the bottle of murbane to Webley for blasting purposes. He knew nothing with respect to the death himself.

The jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death accidentally through taking poison, known as murbane oil, and that no blame locally was attachable to anyone. A rider was added that in future all - such poisonous compounds should be labelled as poison, and that the makers should be notified to that effect. The jury expressed its appreciation of the prompt aid rendered to deceased by Mr and Mrs Coleman and Dr. Williams.