THE RAKAIA POISONING CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1257, 19 May 1884, Page 2

THE RAKAIA POISONING CASE

The Inquest- 1 in inquest was held at the Senth I Rakaia Hotel, on Saturday, before Dr Trevor, the Coroner, on the body of Thomas Fahey, the unfortunate man who lost his life at Urral, on Thursday, by 1 poisoning. Mr D. Gordon Holmes was chosen foreman of the jury. The jury having been sworn, Mr Purnell intimated that he appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of Mr John Mann. Mr Branson appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of the brother of the deceased. The jury then proceeded to view the body, and on their return the Coroner directed that John Mann should be called. There was no answer to the mm•non), and the Coroner intimated his intention to issue a warrant for Mann’a arrest.

Mr Parnell asked that the warrant should be delayed, as several friends of Mann had driven te Tiverton to bring him to the inquest. He was advised that Mann was in a very distracted condition, in fact hardly responsible for his own actions. Mr Branson thoaght a warrant should be issued, as it was highly desirable in the interest of all connected with the unfortunate affiir that Mann should be in attendance

The warrant was issued, but before its execution Mann arrived. James Randall Lampard, clerk to McKerrow and 00., Rakaia, on the 14th May proceeded to Tiverton, Mr John Mana’s farm, in company with Mr Angus Murray. Mann, family, and McKerrow were at the farm. Stopped there that night, and arranged a shooting party for the next day, consisting of A. Murray, McKerrow, Alec Mann and witness. Before leaving the following morning, e«w Mann who gave the ' party a bottle of whiskey to take with them. "Was not present when the whiskey was produced l»y Mann, but on return to the room saw the bottle which Mann said contained whiskey, and added “Don’t give Alec (his son) any, as he is too young.” WitnessVeplied that it would look greedy u the party drank the whiskey without offering Alec any. This was sa'd jocularly. Remarked to Mann that the liquor looked more like cold tea and whiskey mixed than pure whiskey. Could not recollect what Mann said in reply. Intended to go as far as Lyndhurst shooting, met J. Brown on the journey and he went with them to 'Murray’s place to obtain the latter’s gun. Told Brown that they had some whisky and suggested that they should have a nip. Alex- Mann poured the liquor into a cup. Witness said to Brown that the drink was very bitter, resembling qniniae. Almost immediately witness started vomiting, and saw none of the others take the whisky. Afterwards saw all vomit with the exception of the deceased. Witness took a good stiff nip, fully a wine glass full- After being sick suggested to Brown that Mann bad played some , practical joke upon them. He d d not suspect poison until he noticed the condition of the deceased, who was sitting on a butter keg and fell oft. I'iortiehow he rared. himself to his knees and the deceased exclaimed, “ For God’s sake put the handle of a knife down my throat and make me sick.” Some one attempted to do this and witness want outside to see Brown, who was also in a very bad condition and unable to stand. Witness obtained some mustard and water which he administered to Brown. With witness’s assistance Brown was then able to walk, and he kept him moving for about two hours. Alex. Mann had previously been sent to his father to enquire if he had bean playing a practical joke. Tiverton was about four miles away, and when a message cams from Mann that no practical joke had been played they sent Alex. Mann and Murifcy for a doctor, with some of the whiskey. After sending for the doctor Hussey, Smith and Inder, who had been told of the accident by A. Mann and Murray, came to Murray’s place. They administered emetics to McKerrow, Brown and McEvody. Told Inder to go to Mann and tell him that Fahey was dead, and that McKerrow and another man were not expected to live. Did not specially ask Mann to come to the scene of the accident. Inder returned and said that Mann appeared much agitated by the news and said that he must have drawn the whiskey into a poisoned jug. Fahey appeared in his usual health on Thursday morning. Mann knew that they were going shooting. Alec Mann is about 19 years old. Believed ha had taken spirits on other occasions. Attached no importance to Mann requesting that his son sheuld have none of the liquor. Mann did not appear disconcerted when witness called attention to the color of the whiskey. He was quite' sober. Whiskey was drunk at Mann’s on Wednesday evening. Took no particular notice of the liquor. All the party left on good terms with Mann.—To Mr Purnell : Had net previously heard Mann tell his son not to take whiskey, but knew that he objected to him doing so Mann could not have known Fahey or McEvedy would join the party—they were- met with quite accidentally at Mann’s place. Mann is naturally a very excitable man. —To the Jury: Mann was a very absentminded man The doctor was sent for before witness walked with Brown. The night before the accident Mann by mistake offered his visitors kerosene in place of whiskey. He has no sense of smell. Mann is very careless. Witness anticipated that the news would very much upset Mann. Angus Murray, farmer at Lauriston— Went to Mann’s place on Wednesday evening in company with the previous witness. The following morning Mann took a bottle of whiskey from his bedroom, and told them to take it with them on their shooting excursion. Witness did not a«k for the whiskey. Believed Mann kept his whiskey in a jar in his bedroom. Mann had pro ised the previous evening that they should have a bottle of whiskey with them, but requested them not to give his son any. Alec Mann usually takes drink in the ordinary way. When the party arrived at witness’s house Larapard asked for something to drink out of, and he gave them two cups, one with water and the other empty. Was the last to take the whiskey. Did no see the others drinking. Fahey and McEvedy were In his ptnploy and he gave them a drink each. Fahey remarked tbit his was a small one and asked for another, which witness gave him. Half a bjinute afterwards Fahey remarked that there must be something wrong with the whiskey, as he was “ getting a fit.” Immediately afterwards the others complained in the same way. This was about 10.30. An hour afterwards witness and Alex. Mann went for the doctor, taking some of the whiskey with them, which they left with the doctor. Witness was himself affected bythe whiskey,his muscles contracted, and he suffered in the back of his head. Dr Ross returned yrith witness. They found Fahey dead. Had remarked to Mann that it was weak-looking whiskey, and Mann replied that ,there Was no wrter in it, it was pretty strong. Had seen Mann since at his «wnplace. Mann said that it was a very bad case, and asked if McKerrow was bad and if witness was bad, to which witness replied in the affirmative. Mann said that be could not account for it, unless having some strychnine in the place he had put it into the bottle, and than thrown it away to be out of the way of McKerrow. Before this Mann had remarked that witness knew McKerrow was bad, and not in a fit state to be within the reach of poison. —Fo Coroner : Had no strychnine about his place. Knew that McKerrow hid been drinking for some time, and was in an un fit state to bare poisoß available.—Tu Mr

Purnell: Menu wu on good term with the whole of the oarty.—To the Jury : Mann frequently gave whiskey to his visitors. Did not understand. Mtnn to say positively that the whiskey had been put into the strychnine bottle. Oharlea Inder, livery stable-keeper, Rakaia, said that he went to Murray’s farm about half-past eleven on Thursday morning in company with Hussey. Saw MoKerrow there, and asked him what was t the matter. _ McKerrow replied that a drink of whiskey had upset him. Huskey called witness into, the house, and he fonnd Fahey there dead. The deceased was lying upon his back, with his fingers slightly contracted. Lampard requested witness to go to Mann’s. He did so, and informed Mann of the occurrence. Mann would not credit it for some minutes, and then said that his eon had told him that the men were affected ty the whiskey. Witness asked what had been done to the whiskey, and Mann replied, “ Nothing," then added, “Charlie, I’ll tell yon what I did do ; I was mixing some strychnine in a jug for rata, and the whiskey must have been put in the same jug, without it having been washed out." Witness remarked that it was a very serious case, and recommended Mann to return to the scene of the fatality with him. Mann replied that there was no horse or trap on. the place, as they had all been taken away by the shooting party. Witness saw that this was the case. Mann ssked witness to put his own horse into one of the traps at Drral, and bring Lampard and McKerrow back. Witness returned, but Lampard and McKerrow declined to return to Mann’s, remarking that they had had quite enough of “Johnnie Mann."—To Mr Parnell: Mann did not appear excited at first, bat subsequently became quite shaky.—To the Jury: Did net think Mann could have walked to Drral.

Constable Phillips, in charge of Raksia station, said that, from information received about 6 p.m. on Thursday, he proceeded to Urral, and took possession of the body of deceased; also took possession of'some liquor found in a beetle in tne same room. After this witness went to Mann’s residence. Found Mann in bed at throe o’clock in the afternoon. Mann' said that ho had given whiskey to McKerrow, Lampard and Murray, and had heard of the death-of Fahey inconsequence of drinking same. The witness asked Mann if he could account for it, and he made the same statement as reported by Inder. He said he bad received the poison from McKerrow years ago, who had obtained it from Acton Station to poison rats at Rikais. Mann said he had thrown the poison away on. Thursday morning, and when witness asked for the bottle which had contained the poison, Mann said he - had thrown that away too. Witness asked Mann for the jar containing the whiskey, which be produced from the sitting-room. At Mann’s request he left some of the whiskey, and took possession of the balance. Witness, before leaving, told Mahn not to fail to attend the inquest, and Mann asked if he could not avoid doing so by pleading sickness—To the Jury: Mann said the poison had been in a Jug four days before it was thrown eut. Robert McKerrow, a partner with John Mann in the firm of McKerrow and Co., said that he had suffered with others from drinking whiskey supplied by Mann. Recollected strychnine being obtained, he thought, by Mann. It might have been obtained from Acton Station. Handed the poison to Mann about eight or nine months ago, had not seen it since. Had never been in such a stata as to lead Mann to take precautions against his having access to poison.—To Mr Purnell. Have always been on good terms with Mann—To Mr Branson ; Did not say to Dr Ross that it was intended they should die like dogs on the river bed. Witness thought poison was intended for Mann, and reached the sufferers by pure acoid nt.

John Mann was sworn. ' The Coroner told Mann that he had an opportunity to make any statement he chose. He was not called upon to say anything. Mr Purnell advised the witness to make no statement. Dr W. G. Ross said that on Thursday last by request of A. Murray he proceeded to a house at Urral, and there saw the body of deceased. There was external evidence of poisoning by strychnine. Murray, Lampard, Brown, McEvedy, and McKerrow were also there suffering from tetanic spasms, which occur from strychnine poisoning. The body of deceased was intensely rigid, limbs firmly fixed. This was three hours after death, and the body was livid in face, neck and chest, lips blue aud eyes glassy. Had made a post mortem examination of the body, | which he found much swollen and discolored. The skin was blistered, and decomposition had set in very rapidly. The intestines were by gas, and there were o her indications of poisoning by strychnine. Murray handed witness the bottle produced containing a fluid | which smelt like whiskey, but had the in- j tensely characteristic taste of strychnine. From the symptoms pf the deceased de-1 scribed by the survivors, and from the post mortem examination was quite satisfied that death was occasioned by strychnine.—To police : The crystals of strychnine are soluble in vinegar, and would remain in solution. Did not think it likely that sufficient poison would adhere to an emptied jug as.described - to poison deceased and produce the violent symptoms exhibited by hi) companions, but it was possible. Half a grain of strychnine I had caused death in an adult, and ,one- I sixteenth might prove fatal in the cose of [ a child. The usual medicinal dose was ( from one-twelfth to one-thirtieth oft a I grain. Death resulted from strychnine in { from five minutes to two hours of taking I the poison.—To the Jury : Unless vine-1 gar was s rong a wineglassful would not I dissolve half an ounce of .strychnine. By I analysis vinegar could still be detected in { the whiskey if, as alleged, it had been I used to dissolve the strychnine. To the 1 Coroner : If he had bean present earlier I he would have administered chloral hydrate or morphia to deceased, he I thought with a reasonable chance of sue-j cess.

The police intimated that they had several other witnesses, but their testimony would be purely of a corroborative character, and unless otherwise required by the coroner, the foregoing wou!d : close the evidence.

The jury signified to the Coroner that they required no more evidence, and Mr Purnell proceeded to address them upon the evidence and the law involve 1 —Mr Branson also called attention to several points in the evidence. —After the Coroner had briery reviewed the facts, the jury retired, and after an absence of fifteen minutes returned with a verdict that “ the deceased, Thomas Fahey, met with his death by strychnine poisoning. 1 ' A. rider was added to the verdict < to the effect that John Mann was deserving of severe censure for the carelessness shown by him in the use of so dangerous a poison »s I strychnine, and far his heartless conduct I in not going to the men when he receirsd j news of their dangerous condition. j John Mann, who had been arrested on j the Coroner’s warrant, was, at thp conolu-1 siou of the inquest, cautioned and dis j charged. I