THE DEATH IS A VINERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10406, 2 April 1897, Page 5

THE DEATH IS A VINERY.

THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday at the Newmarket Hotel, before Dr. T. M. Phileon and a jury of six, into the circumstances attending the death of a man named Joseph King, also known as Scurby, who was found dead in the vinery of Mr, Parker, timber merchant, Arney Crescent, Rorouera. \\ illiam Johnson Parker stated, deceased, who was at one time a carpenter, had been in bis employ for about seven months pasb as a gardener. In order to kill the insect life in the vinery owned by witness, a number of vessels, containing a solution of cyanide of potassium in water, to which sulphuric acid was added, were placed at intervals on the floor. Deceased was nbouO this work on the day of the fatal occurrence. He had done it twice previously; once assisted by witness and once by himself. Witness was accustomed to leave the door of the vinery open while he placed the vessels about, and worked from the closed end to the door, but deceased apparently had the door shut. Witness was away from home from the morning of the 31sfc until late, in the evening. Hs did not know prussic acid was given off when the chemicals he used were combined. Witness got the recipe to kill insects out of a newspaper, and knew it was dangerous stuff; still he thought no harm would result on account of the care he always took when using it, He had never experienced any bad effects when entering the vinery after fumigating it. Dr. F. IV. Gordon deposed thab on a combination of the chemicals named the fumes of hydrocyanic or prusssic acid were given off, which, if inhaled, would cause immediate death. He thought deceased had died from the effects of this acid.

Mrs. Parker, wife of the first witness, said diseased did not come to his tea when called. Witness went to look for him and on opening a door of the vinery found him lying dead ut the opposite end some ninety feet'off. The jury returned a verdict of death from inhaling the fumea of pruaaio acid, and added a rider that it should be a warning to the public. Ur. Philaon said there had certainly been great carelessness arid ignorance.