DEATH FROM POISONING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14807, 10 October 1911, Page 8

DEATH FROM POISONING.

RETIRED BOOKSELLER'S END.

John Beale, a retired bookseller, died in a boardinghouse in Upper Queen-street at a late hour on Sunday night. The deceased appeared to be in good health during the day, but at 10.15 p.m. groans were heard coming from his room, and the inmates of the house finding thai Beale was seriously ill Dr. Murray was sent for. On the doctor's arrival the deceased was unconscious, and lie died in a few minutes. The circumstances surrounding Beale'a death were inquired into by the Coroner {Mr. 'J l . (Jresham) yesterday afternoon.

j. Dr. Murray, who made the post-mortem examination,, deposed that there was a "corrosive burning on the, inside of the lips and under the tongue, which smelt of lysol or carbolic. There was marked pleurisy on, the left lung. The heart showed marked 'atheroma of the aorta. The interior of the stomach showed signs of corrosion, and there were faint traces of carbolic. The cause of death was shock following the swallowing of lysol or carbolic... ■;_:. To the jury '•: There were no bottles of lysol or ' carbolic ;in the room where she ** died, and the only theory 1 j can suggest is that the deceased took the poison away from the room and then; went to lie on his bed, where he became unconscious and died. Robert, Oborn, said that during Be'ale's stay at his house he did not show any signs of insanity. \_ He noticed nothing unusual in his manner on Sunday morning. The -' next time witness saw deceased, at about 10.15 p.m. on Sunday, he was ill on his bed. The verdict of the jury was that the cause of Beaje's death was carbolic poisoning, but' there was no evidence to show how the poison was administered.