DEATH OF M. HURRELL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 209, 6 December 1880, Page 2

DEATH OF M. HURRELL.

The Inquest. :'i (by telegraph.) (from our own correspondent;) Christchurch, To-day. On Sunday afternoon, Mr C. C. Hurrell, Clerk of Court at Ashburton, was found dead in bed in Coker’s Hotel, where he had been living for a day or two. Beside his bed was found a bottle of laudanum, which he had been using for neuralgia. An inquest was held at ..two o’clock to-day.

John Coker—Saw deceased come ,to my hotel on Thursday. Ho was quite well. He went to bed on Saturday at half-past six, after dinner. Saw him dead in bed at noon on Sunday.

P. A. Edmiston—l have known deceased nearly two years. He used to suffer from neuralgia and heart disease. He appeared in good health on Saturday, I found him dead in bed on Sunday, and told the police. Constable Leahey—l found two bottles marked “ laudanum’’—one full, the other with onl y a little in—and £8 15s. in cash. Deceased was undressed in bed. His coat and trousers were hanging up. Dr. P. Towno;i(l deponed that lie sold him two ounces of laudanum on Friday for neuralgia. G. Bbnnington deponed that he sold one ounce of laudanum on Friday to the deceased, who said lie was bad with neuralgia, and asked him how much it was safe to take. Witness told him about 30 drops. Sergeant Felton deponed that he had known deceased nearly two years, Saw him with an empty-bo'.tie of laudanum about a month ago. He said he always had to use something to put him to sleep. Know he had resigned in consequence of being reported. Saw him well last Thursday. Dr. Campbell, who made the post mortem examination, found the body well nourished. The heart had disease of the valves. The stomach smelt of laudanum, and death had resulted from an overdose of laudanum and the state of the heart. Verdict—Accidental death.