DEATH IN A VINERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10405, 1 April 1897, Page 5

DEATH IN A VINERY.

SUPPOSED SUFFOCATION BY FUMES

OF NITRIC ACID. Yesterday evening it was reported to the police authorities that a man named Joseph Scurby, a gardener, had been found dead in Mr. Parker's vinery, off Arney Road, Remuera. Constables Markle (Newmarket police statioe) and Maekonochie (of Parnell) went out to the district to make investiga< tions.

As the result of their inquiries it appears that Mr. Parker, in company with Scurby, had used nitric acid for vinery purposes, and showed Scurby how to use it. Yesterday afternoon, a little before 5 o'clock, Scurby told the servant girl he was going into the vinery to attend to something or other. As he did not come baok again in a reasonable time to the house she was sent to look for him at the vinery. On opening the door of the vinery she found him lying there dead, and informed Mr, Parker, who communicated with the police. It is supposed he was using the nitric acid, and having closed the doors of the vinery behind him, that he had been overpowered by the fumes and suffocated. An inquest will be held, no doubt, by Dr. Philson, coroner, to-day, Deceased was about 40 years of age, and has relatives in tho Hawke's Bay district.