A MYSTERIOUS CASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16685, 4 May 1916, Page 2

A MYSTERIOUS CASE

DEATH OF PATRICK lIERAIJS. Mr 11, Y. Widdowson, S.M., opened an inquiry into tho circumstances surrounding tho death of Patrick Herald (commonly known ok Peter Herald) at tho Hoepitul yesterday afternoon. Senior-sergeant lluiton watched the proceedings on behalf of tho police. David Herald identified the body as that of his brother Patrick, who was 60 .years of age. .Deceased was a single iujui and owned 20 acres of land at IlildMrUiorpo. He. stayed with witness at Hildcrthorpo lor a inontli at .New Year, and was then in fairly good health. Ho had previously been operated on for cancer.

Ann Burnett, widow, said she had known deceased for 20 years, and she had been residing with him in tho capacity of housekeeper. Witness received from deceased 30s a week and paid tho rent out of it. To sometimes gavo lier a little more than that. Witness ran tho house. Deceased did lalvouiing work, and earned from £2 to £2 6s a weok when he was working. He was not often out of work. He received £5 a year from his brother. He went to tho Hospital about 12 months ago and was operated on for cancer in tho lip. Smco then liis health had been very good. On Sunday he went to bed in good health, but woko up about 12 o'clock, and said he believed ho had been seized with paraysis; that he could not raise his axm.; that hie throat was "gone," and that ho could scarcely speak. Deceased got out of bed and was sick, and with witness's assistance got into bed again. At 6 o'clock in the morning witness went to a store, and a doctor was telephoned for. Dr Lindon arrived a little after 7 o'clock, and said deceased must go to the Hospital at once. Deceased was sent to the Hospital about half past eight, and witness was told about 9 o'clock next morning that ho was dead. Deceased went to church on Sunday evening, and had a little porridge when ho came back. Witness also had some of tho porridge. Outside the porridge witness had nothing except a little water. ' There was no poison ot any land in tho house so far as witness knew. Deceased seemed to bo in good spirits on the Sunday evening. Witness and deocased were on the best of terais. A bettor man than deocased could not have walked. Dr Roberts stated that ho did not know deceased at all He made a post mortem examination on Wednesday morning. Deceased was a strong, well built, well nourished man. There were no external marks of violence Witness examined the internal organs and found no sign of organic disease. The intestines were empty and collapsed, and the -stomach contained about half a pint of liquid which had not yet been examined. There was no sign of irritant poisoning, and there was nothing to account •for death. _

The Coroner: You have heard Mrs Burnett say he was frothing at the mouth and vomiting. What wouid that indicate? Dr Roberts: It might indicate many things, but it is consistent with his having taken poison. ... The Coroner: Is there anything else it is consistent with? Dr Roberts: No, unless it was something that had disagreed with hirn. _ I know of nothing to account for the condition, except some form of poisoning. Dr Roberts, turning to Mrs Burnett, inquired whether deceased had vomited much. Mrs Burnett: Very little. It was white frothy stuff that' camo out. A por-ridg-o rarac up. He did not complain of pain. After vomiting he slept for two tours. At the end of that time he woke up and made a noiso with_ his mouth. _ It was a kind of muttering, as if he was trying to speak. That kept on till tlie doctor came. He seemod to unaeistand what was said to him, but could not answer. The Coroner (to Dr Roberts): What is that consistent with? Dr Roberts: That is more like poisoning than anything. What I heard from Dr Bowie is consistent with poisoning. Senior-sergeant Hutton: The oontents of the stomach would disclose whether death was due to poisoning? Dr Roberts replied that the contents of the stomach and some portions of the organs had been taken charge of. Dr Bowie stated that when he saw the patient, he knew it was not a case of apoplexy and diagnosed some sort of poisoning. Deceased was conscious, but could not speak. Witness tried to find out what kind of poisoning it was, and made a test of urine and found it to be normal. Deceased was very far gone when witness saw him. He was too weak to got stomach contents. Witness tried to elicit by signs whether deceased had taken any poison voluntarily, but the reply was always in the negative, by shutting the eyes. Witness had made him understand how to answer by signs. Certain kinds of poison would cause the paralysis.. Ptomaine poisoning would produce the vomiting and diarrhoea. Witness wa? quite convinced tho man was poisoned, but with wlhit, he could not say. There was nothing to indicate the cause of death, apart from tho stomach and the parts of the organs that had been sealed up. Witness mentioned that Dr Colquhoun had first seen the case. At this stage the inquiry was adjourned sine die. until an analysis of what had been retained was made.