INQUESTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 103, 24 January 1908, Page 8

INQUESTS.

DEATH FROM PTOMAINE POISONING. ' The inquest.on-t-ho''body of Henry Ernest Dims, printer, of Crawford Street,-who died suddenly in bed on tlio morning of .January 1, was resumed at tlio Morgue yesterday morning before Mr. George Lambert, J.P. (Deputy-Coroner). ■ • ; Tlio mimes of the jurors were: — Arthur Dean (foreman), • George Bartlett, Isaac Mizraclii, Henry Kidman, Siglas Pugsloy, and Joseph A. Barrett. Detcctivo Broberg appeared oil behalf of tlio police. Jano Davis, wifo of deceased, stated that on - Saturday, December 2S, she purchased two tins of preserved sheeps' tongues. ' At dinner 011 Sunday tlio family partook of the contents of ono of the tins. Deceased ivent to visit a friend in tlio afternoon, and on his return complained of pains all over, the body, and was unable to eat his tea. Subsequently, he.vomited and suffered from dysentery... 011 Monday evening the, other tin was disposed of, deceased eating a portion of the contents. On both occasions tlie tongues- were taken out of the tins as soon as tliev were opened. No other member of tlio family seemed to be alfrcted through eating the tongues. After formal: evidence by Constable Carmody, ' - J. A. Pond, l'\C..S., who analysed the content's of tlio stomach, certified jliat lie found 110 trace of-poison of any.description. In his opinion, however, the stomach,'both in the congested and emphysematous condition, displayed indications consistent with the effects of irritant poison. He had seen similar indications in cases of arsenical poisoning and of ptomaine poisoning. .In this case, ho had li'.auo special tests for arsenic, but without finding any trace, and be considered it was not improbable death had been due to ptomaine poisoning. . , The Coroner, in summing up, said that it was satisfactory to learn that' deceased 'had not met his death from poison self-adminis-tered. The jury,., without retiring, returned a verdict to'the effect that, the'deceased died from causes consistent with the effects of ptomaine poisoning.lA'ELL BAY FATALITY. An inquest concerning the death of John Clarke, .who was drowned while bathing at Lvell Iky on Wednesday morning, was held at the Morgue yesterday afternoon before Mr. Simpson, acting-coroner, and a jury. Deceased was a window-cleaner in the employ of the Public Works Department, aiid was 27 years of age. He. was a native of Kent, England, and is believed to have had no relatives in this country. His birth certificate, which was produced, showed him to be the son of W. J. Clarke, of Milton, Kent. The evidence showed that' deceased was of sober and temperate habits. He had left liis boarding-houso 011 Wednesday morning, saying that he was going to bathe. George William Freer, Customs clerk, said that after bathing at Lycll Bay on tlie day in question, he. saw deceased enter the water and swim about, but he. could not swim well. The bench was a safe oiio for bathing, and deceased was never out of , his depth. The. water there being only three feet deep. Witness, 011 looking again, did not see deceased, but concluded lie had come out of the water or joined other bathers. Afterwards he saw the body on the beach, and assisted in efforts to resuscitate it. lie concluded deceased had bad an attack of cramp or a fit. Frank Mowatt, engineering employee, deposed to seeing the body floating in'shallow water, and helping to take it out. He, also took part iu the efforts at resuscitation. The jury, at. the suggestion of t'he actingcoroner, returned an open verdict, that deceased met his death by drowning.

. SALE OF FARMS. There are now only seven blocks left unsold of Jtaraiuansa Kstate, Akitio, and it is intimated by -Messrs. Murray, lioberls, and Co. that they me prcpafi-cl to treat privately with iiitomli"!,' purchasers for these.' The same easy terms slill prevail. They arc those which wore the conditions of sale at (lie recent auction.