INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MR J. C. SEXTIE.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1657, 10 June 1875, Page 2

INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MR J. C. SEXTIE.

(Continued from yesterday.)

Mrs Sextie proceeded : My husband was not of intemperate habits generally, but lately had given way to drinking; was troubled in mind, was much in debt, and ap peared sometimes as though he did not know what; he was about. He tried to borrow money but had failed. He said that he would drown himself when under the influence of drink ; but of this I took little notice. Some years ago he purchased arsenic for killing rats, but did not know where he kept the poison. He frequently complained of his heart, and six or seven years ago he fell dow nina n't. I fear his death was caused by poison. He was in the habit of purchasing his medicines of Mr Sydney Smith, of Queen-street. Lived on good terms. —Mr Thomas Leigh, of Ponsonby was passing along Drake-street on his way home on Monday night. Saw'deceased and Mr Evans standing at the Red Lion door between ten and eleven o'clock. Mr Evans asked me to take charge of Mr Sextie, who was " sensibly drunk." Took the arm of deceased and accompanied him to his house on College Hill; he talked sensibly on various subjects; left him at his door. He did not appear distressed in mind ; heard of his death the following morning.- Thomas Seddon Evans, a photographer, deposed : I have known the deceased about twelve years ; last saw him alive on Monday; left him at the Red Lion, Drake-street, where we had some gin together. His conversation was of a cheerful character, and he seemed in good spirits. Saw him leave for his home with last witness. Mr Sextie was of a sensitive nature, and took trifles to heart. Knew that he was in pecuniary difficulties, and that there was a judgment against him. — Dr. J. H. Hooper, of Hobson - street, deposed: I have known the deceased casually for some years. Was called to attend him at six o'clock on Tuesday morniag, found him dead on the sofa. There was no rigidity in the limbs ; the face was placid, and not indicative of physical suffering; the body was still warm, and apparently he had been dead one hour. Mrs Sextie expressed fears that he had taken poison. Packages were on the table beside him ; also a tea cup nearly emptied of its contents ; ascertained by the nsual tests that the packets and crystals contained a little strychnine. Had made a post-mortem examination, assisted by Dr. Bayntunf; the body presented no eternal appearance of poisoning ; the organs were healthy, but the heart was large and flabby and about twice the ordinary _ size of a mans heart. I cannot give a decided opinion as to the cause of death until the contents of the stomach have been examined. Had I not seen the strychnine, should have considered that death had resulted from natural causes. The inquest wbb then adjourned until Saturday next at two o'clock.