DEATH BY POISONING

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 53

DEATH BY POISONING

AN OPEN VERDICT. The adjourned inquest on the body of James Walker Shearer, who died at the Dunedin Hospital on Saturday last, was Concluded on Friday morning before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M. (coroner). Seniorsergeant Dewin represented the police. Constable Harris said he was on duty in George street at 12.15 a.m. on July 22, and was going north when he noticed a man on the opposite side going south. The man came over towards witness, and, halting within a few paces, said, ‘Tm bad.” Witness asked him what was wrong, and he said he didn’t know. He also said he did not know where he was going. Witness asked him for his name and address, but got no answer. Getting no replies to further questions, witness asked the man to accompany him to the police station. He did not give witness the impression that he was in pain. On the way to the station the man did not speak at all. He was questioned at the station, but nothing could he got from him for some time. Finally it was elicited that he was boarding at the Railway Private Hotel, and that his name was Shearer. Witness rang np the board ing-honse, and was told that Shearer was a decent, respectable man, and that he did not drink. The proprietress said she would send a man named Cairns and her son to take him home. They arrived about 1 o’clock, and took him home. Deceased did not ask witness to take him to the Hospital. There was no smell of drink on deceased, bnt he appeared to be suffering a recovery after a drinking bout. Deceased did not mention to witness that he had had any drink. Constable Hamilton said he interviewed deceased the day he was admitted to the Hospital. He was very ill. and it was difficult to get him to speak at all. He said that on the previous day he had been drinking about town with- other men. and had probably been drunk. He could not remember anything about the other men. He did not remember taking any poison. It seemed to the constable that deceased was keeping something hack. He said he did not remember anything till he met Constable Harris in the street. No complaint was made by him. Constable M'Onlloch said he visited deceased twice at the Hospital, and gave him an opportunity to explain how he became 111. Each time he refused to say anything, and resented being visited by the police. On the first occasion he said he was too ill to speak, and repeated that on the second visit. Witness drew his attention t-o the fact that he had said something about two men giving him drink, and told him be should give the police the opportunity of clearing up the matter. He replied that he would say nothing about it, but say all he had to say when he came out. Deceased was quite able to make a statement if he wished, as he could talk qu : te rationally and freely if he wished. Deceased appeared to be suspicious and to be holding back something. Witness searched deceased’s boxes, and found a passport to the Malay States in March, 1920, which showed that he was 35 years of age. The Coroner, in giving his verdict, said deceased was well known io Mr Brown, who stated he was about 49 years of age. Prior to enlistment in the Expeditionary Force deceased was living in the Gore district. and while there was addicted to drink. It appeared thrft he went to the war, and returned to the dominion in 1919. In March, 1920, he seemed to have gone to the Malay States to work on a dredge, and returned to New Zealand about June of this year, as the climate did not suit him. Deceased told Mr Brown he had had malarial fever. In July he came to Dunedin and stayed with Mrs Stenhonse at the Railway Private Hotel. On the evening of July 26 he seemed to have been in good health and spirits, and the next that was hea'd was his approaching the constable. After being taken to the hoarding-house he vomited blood, and Mrs Stenhouse. against the wish of deceased, called a doctor, who ordered his removal to the Hospital, where he died on the 24th of the present month. While in the Hospital he was visited by friends and by the police, hut to all these people was very reticent. At one time or another, however. he disclosed certain things He said ho had been drinking tip till about 9 p.m., having consumed a quantity of whisky, and had no further recollection of anything till he met the constable early next morning. It appeared that he was keeping something back, and that was the most, important, part of thi' history of the night. From the medical evidence it appeared he had taken some corrosive acid, and from the stains on his clothes and the action on his throat and hi« stomach it was clear it was a strong acid. It had been suggested that deceased had attempted to commit suicide by taking acid himself, but lie (the coroner) did not hold that view. It, would appear that ho had taken “doped” whisky, lie had probably been drinking some concoction which ho thought was whisky, and which contained the acid. He (the coroner) did not think the man had committed suicide, nor did he think he had been murdered. Death was caused by the throat being so corroded by the acid that it deprived him of necessary nourishment. The Coroner returned an open verdict ■ ‘TTiat deceased died at the Hospital, the cause of death being inanition following- on the effects of corrosion of the throat, through taking a corrosive acid; but there is no evidence to show how, in what form, or under what circumstances, the acid was taken or administered.”