INQUEST ON MR. G. F. REID.

Evening Star, Issue 4049, 17 February 1876, Page 3

INQUEST ON MR. G. F. REID.

-An mquest was held at Baxter's Maitlahd Hotel, at three o'clock this afternoon, before Mr I. N. Watt, Acting-District Coroner, and a jury of fifteen, touching the death of MrG. F. Reid, forwarding agent. I The Coroner stated that he ha 4 a melical certificate from Dr Burns as to the cause of death: Dr Burns would, however, be present, alid would certify to the cause of death. The certificate, which was not evidence was to this effect:—" I hereby certify that George Fore t Reid, merchant:, residing in Manor place, died at hiß place of business this day (Wednesday), and that the cause of death was poisoning by strychnine, administered by himself, and admitted to me."

Robert Burns, duly qualified medical practitioner, had known the deceased ever since he came to this country eight or ten years s'nee. He had been in attendance on him previous to his decease. Witness called at deceased's placa of business yesterday mornin? at about a quarter past twelve. He found him upstairs lying on a rng on the floor in the corner of the room. He paid he w»s glad to see witness as he had taken strychnine. Witness asked him how long before; he said three hours. Witness .said : That can't be, you've baen downstairs till half an-hour ago Mr Reid. He immediately said. "Oh, I don't know What I am talking about. My head's all confused, I haven't taken any. You see I've been vomiting. I've great pain in my bowels, and I was purging all night." Witness at this tune could not detect any svmptoms of his having taken strychnine. Witness mentioned to show how h'ttle relianca coul I be then placed on his testimony that he taxeddeceased with drinking brandy (smelling it on h.m), but he said, "No, 1 not a drop." Witness cam«s down stairs to the office, nnd sent to Mr Leary's chemist for some m-dlinei While waiting for it he heard a noise from above as though Mr Reid was getting on his feet. Witness immediately mn upstairs. He he ;ri him say " Oh, doctor" as he entered the room. His appearance was perfectly changed: his face was livid, his head thrown back, his eye-balls prominent and staring out of his head; his features fixed, his whole body rigid and convulsed. He never spoke again. The livi ;ity of textures and the rigidity of body increased. He remained in that condition for two or three minutes; his limbs gradually extended; hiß pulse weakened, and he died within four minutes of that convulsion. Prior to his decease witness was attending him fo- depression and.melmcholy. He had evidently been drinking too f 1 edy. The Coroner: Tea, water, or ardent spirituous liquors? We all drink something. Wit ess: Spirits. While he was in life I never doubted his sanity, but, looking at t,e whole circumstances, I am now of opinion that hi* was insane. lam satisfied that he died from poisoning by strychnine. The Coroner (to the Foreman): There has been no post mortem examination. :' Witness: I never saw a case of poisoning by strychnine before; but I never saw a case of death from duease like this. Ido not believe <he had taken the .itrychhine more th in fifteen ininute3 before he cied. .

Robert Nimmo, clerk to the: deceased, said that he went.upstairs yesterday morning he found the deceased lying on a piece of drugget on the floor. He asked witness to let him rest qu ; edy for half anhour His face was flushed, and he had evidently been drinking. Witness went up taiis again at about 12 o'c ock, and deceased asked witnes3 to let him rest a few minutes longer. Witness went down stairs, and Dr. Burns coming in witness asked him to '%o and , see deceased, who was evidently flushed and un.Well. The doctor went upstars. ■ The veidict was "Death by strychnine selfadminist red, while temporaiily. insane."