TRADESMAN'S TRAGIC DEATH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3182, 5 September 1917, Page 6

TRADESMAN'S TRAGIC DEATH

I' ' ; '.VERDICT AT ;THE INQUEST. f''.l--Mr;-Sv:E. M'Carthy, S.M., held an in- ... guest yesterday morning into the cause ' r of death of Joseph Henry Gavin, who f-.-.-died at the Wellington Hospital early on I' .'Monday morning from . the effects of y poison..- ".. ', ■'■ ! Minnie Gavin, widow of deceased, said ?•" she lived with her husband at .175 Ade-

V: laide Road! Deceased was .born in Inverv.cargill 45 years ago, and had been in /business as, a. dyer and cleaner with her J- -brother, v who had gone to the war, the £•'■■ place of business being 138 Vivian Street. ;' Her husband was always of a quiet dis-

; position,-and recently had been very k:morose.-He jseldom spoke"to any of the '< family-except'-to answer questions. Whan ?'he/left for his place of business last :; Thursday morning he was very depress- '!■ ed, and when asked what was the matter [-replied, "I do not know." Being anxious, 'witness went to the. shop about 11 I o'clock, where she saw her husband at ; - -ivork. On again being, asked what was ''•the matter he feplied ns" before., A priest C ivas sent for, but Gavin said he had no- * tiling, to tell. Witness-then saw Dr. t'Henry, and when tho-doctor arrived at I-the shop her husband-had already been :. removed to the Hospitil. •: "■:■■ Asher Asher, \'furniture'- dealer, 142 f'-Vivian' Street,' stated that-a. lady came f ,; Jnto his shop and said there was sonie- } thing-wrong-at the shop next door.. Wil-f-Bess-immediately went to the shop and >' saw Gavin 'and asked him what was the .'matter. Gavin replied, "I am done for, ' J and pointed to two bottles. He stated ''that he had drurak the contents of one The bottle contained poison. J- 'Witness called in Dr. Mackin, who made - Gavin drink some vinegar, and ordered I'.-lis removal'to the Hospital "Witness i- had ■' known Gavin..for. about thr?e years i and regarded him as a; man of excellent V : C r'After ■• nearing<".furtlier evidence, the ; Coroner Teturned a^verdict' that, Joseph <■ Henry Gavin died' from ■ the effects ot • Tioison, and that there was no evidence ■■;,- to show whether it was-purposely. or acf" pidentally taken: i •■