INQUEST.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 3617, 21 January 1880, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquiry into the cause of death of the late' Mr George Perry was held at his residence, Brunawick Line, yesterday, before Dr Tripe, Deputy Coroner, and a jury composed of Robert Hair.(foreman), J. T . Anderaon,, J. Pqwle, A. Wright, A. Mullins, G. Wright, jun,. M.' Mahoney, T. Mahoney, A. Campbell,: G. W. Camp, bell, H. Hogg, and G. Wright, senr. The firßt witness called ; was Kate Bett, housekeeper to the deeeasedrnwho deposed to having seen him on the night of Saturday last, when he was in good spirits, but had not been 80, duriog the week. He was expecting a lady ouifiom England whom he intended fo marry.' At half- past twelve on Snnday morning saw him.lying on the' floor of his bedroom, apparently dead, and immediately sent for Mr Wright.. The deceased had, been in the habit of taking chloroform for the last seven months.. On Wednesday pie* viously, at suppertime, he said he had two bottles of poison in the ho,aß& and that he had stated to the chemist that it was for witness' toothache, Saw the bottle (produced) on Saturday, audit wai then full, but the other smaller bottle was empty, and was afterwards found in the cupboard in the parlour with its present contents. Witness believed it was chloroform, as deceased said he had putßomein it for her. He was subject to fits, and in August last had a very severe one. He. was then brought homo on a wheelbarrow, and recovered in about half an hour. ' . L. Wright,'flefctler, gaye evidence of hiihaving seen deceased alive .on Saturday* when he appeared much as usual. " . D. H. Gfuthrje deposed to' having seen ths body of deceased on Sunday morning lying face diownwards on the floor of hia bedroom, with his head wrapped 1 in a Crimean shirt;. His bead was resting on a handkerchief (produced), and he waa quite stiff and dead. Witness last saw him alive on Wednesday, when he wag very depressed and low-spirited. :He lost his wife about a year ago,' and has been depressed ever since, i Hugh B, Williamson, chemist, of Wanganui, deposed to haringr Jknown deceased and sold him two ounces of chloroform aud one. ounoej of laudna'um on Wednesday last, and identified the bottles 'pro* duced. He said he wanted it for Mis* Bekt, who suffered from toothache* Witness had supplied; him with chloroform I before, aud had no suspicion he intended j it for any other than the stated purpose. I Dr Earle deposed, to.. having assisted, ! in making a post mortem examinatiori on the body pi deceased. . He fdund thet heart and lungs in a healthy state, and i the stomach half filled with partly;digested food.- Examined - tbe ■ brain and • membranes of the; brain ais found it congested.. A quantity ( of serum was in the ventricles of the brain, and the pupils of the eyes were contracted.' From 1 ' the symptoms, considered 1 that death' was caused by a. narcotic, poison such as opium, There were several - old adhesions between the brain and the. mem* branes. It was a >yeiy common thing to find adhesions, in, oases of insanity. n Dr Donaldson gave* similar .evidence, and added ' that an ounce of iaudnaum was more than sufficient to cause death ; and that the bottle produced would hold an ounce. Thomas Wilson deposed , to having known deceased for a long time.. . ; About six mouths ago found him in his room on the sofa with a handkerchief pressed to his mouth. He was insensible, and witness could smeJl. chloroform. Deceased stated that his late wife bad appeared to him and he wished to go to her. Witness considered him thea of unsound mind, but deceased begged him not to say any* thing about it, and he promised not to if he would not act in a similar /manner again. '•' ' The jury brought in a verdict that deceased died from the effects of a narcotic poison taken while labouring under tenv» porary insanity. . " •. !