Waverley News.

Patea Mail, Volume XXIX, 27 November 1907, Page 2

Waverley News.

BY OUR RESIDENT RETORTER

WAVERLEY, THIS DAY

DEATH OF JOHN BRADLBYi

STILL A MYSTERY,

IRRITANT POISON SUSPECTED.

The inquest on the late Mr John Bradley was held in the Court House, Waverley, on Monday, before Mr R- D. Stanford, S.M., coroner, and a jury of six consisting of* Messrs J. B. Taylor (foreman), G. Lyons, C. Olliver, j. Sinclair, W. K. Connell and J. W. Emmerson. Tho coroner and jury went to the residence of deceased to view the body, and whilst there took the evidence of Catherine Smith who had been living with deceased. Witness deposed that on Thursday, 21at inst., deceased loft the house to go to the Hawora show about 8 30 a.m. saying ho would bo home about 7.80 p.m. bringing . a friend with him. Ho did not return on m Thursday, but returned on Friday, 22nd inst, about 6 p.m. Deceased shortly after his arrival went to his bedroom. A few minutes later he called her in and complained of feeling unwell, and of pains in his chest and stomach. As ha got no better she went for Mr B. P. Symes who lived next door and asked him to go for the doetor. The doctor arrived shortly after 7 p.m. She knew nothing of de- , eeased’s financial position, although he often showed her the bills as they came , in. He did not at any time appear to have any trouble on his mind. He had never hinted at any time at taking his own life. She did not know if he had any poison in the house. He was perfectly sober when he arrived home on I Friday. Ho was a man of very sober, habits. To the coroner: Deceased would not

take any tea although she had offered it to him. He did not as far as she knew take any food or drink in the house that night (Friday). He had complained sometimes previously, in the mornings, of suffering from indigestion, •To a juror: Deceased said he had taken laudanum in reply to a question asked by witness. He did not say when or where. He told her that he had stopped at the hotel the night previous. He said he had taken one ounce of laudanum. Dr Wm, Todd deposed that at about 7 p.m. on Friday evening, 22nd mat., he was called by Mr Byrnes to attend to deceased at his residence. When ho arrived at the house deceased was apparently suffering from very great pain. He asked deceased if ha could give him any idea of the cause of the pain. Deceased was unable to reply owing to the excessive agony ho was undergoing. The pains were in the abdomen and throat. He had heard that deceased had taken an ounce of laudanum and that he had been vomiting frequently. The symptoms were not those of laudanum poisoning. He concluded that the symptoms were more like those of arsenic or a similar irritant noison. The stomach pump was used, also emetics were given, both only acting to a very limited extent owing to the stomach being empty. Whilst they were working with deceased the .results of the emetics were removed and thrown out inadvertently. Deceased continued in great agony until between 2 and 3 a.m, Saturday morning. Witness injected atropin as an antidote to laudanum poisoning and then morphia to deaden the pain. It had no apparent effect and'deceased continued suffering agonies until 3 a.m. when he became unconscious and remained unconscious until he died about 7 p.m. on Saturday. During the night before deceased became unconscious efforts were made to get him to state the causa of his attack. At one time he said he had taken a pull out of a bottle from some young chap. He did not say what it was or whom he got it from. Witness was doubtful of deceased’s statements and considered he was evading the question* put to him. Witness, assisted by Dr. Simmons, of Patea, made a post mortem examination of the body of deceased that day. They found the face black and discolored and covered witbi blood that had escaped from his mouth and nostrils. There was some appearance of a blood vessel being broken. The skin of the body was black and discolored. The effect of an irritant poison would discolor the skin. The body was very much distended and the stomach empty, there being no trace of food or liquid. The inside of the stomach was black instead of being white as in the case of natural death. The base of the stomach wPuld also indicate either arsenic or alcoholic poisoning. A portion of the stomach, liver and intestines were removed for analytical examination. The heart and lungs appeared slightly congested. He was unable to state what was the actual cause of death but would say it was some irritant poison, arsenic. being extremely probable. Could not smell or find any trace of beer or alcohol on deceased when k he first attended him. Deceased waar' N * continually calling for cold water which was another indication of irritant poisoning. ' If deceased had had any drink he would have smelt it or found some trace; of it when he first arrived. If a statement was made' that deceased was drinking heavily that day would say it was false. Deceased appeared to get some ease when witness gave him a recognised antidote for arsenic poisoning. To a juror : Was quite confident that, death was due to an irritant poison re-

sembling arsenic. Dr Todd, continuing, said that h» recognised the bottle marked a produced and had tested the contents. They were quite harmless being a mixture usually given for colds. The mixture contained opium, peppermint and aniseed. The discoloration of the stomach could not be caused by taking that medicine. The appearance of the stomach would not be caused by swallowing an ounce of laudanum, but would be consistent if deceased had been an habitual alcoholic drunkard. Dr W. T. Simmons deposed that he assisted Dr Todd in making a post mortem examination and described the condition of the body. The condition of his stomach was due to some irritant, probably poison, but could not say what. The symptoms resembled those caused by arsenic. He thought it extremely probable death was due to poison. A portion of stomach, liver and intestines was preserved for analytical examination. E. P. Symcs deposed that ha was called to deceased’s house on Friday evening. He found deceased in terrible agony and asked what was wrong. It was a few minutes before ho got a reply to theeffect that deceased had taken about one ounce of laudanum and aniseed. Witness immediately left to call the doctor. The only coherent remarks from

deceased heard by witness was that he had taken a pull out of a bottle given him by some chap as a pick-me-up. He did not say what were the contents of thebottle. Had known deceased about eight

or nine months over since he came to

Waverloy. He was not addicted to drink. Had never seen him drunk nor

tho worse for liquor. l ' Herbert Hodgson deposed he bad known deceased since ho had boon in WaTorley* Deceased occupied the same room with

witness at hotel on Thursday night. De-

ceased was perfectly sober when ho went to bed. Ho told witness he was a grass-

widower, that was why he was staying in the hotel. Deceased was in good health next morning but ho did not go down to break