TE ARAI FATALITY!

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2285, 2 September 1908, Page 2

TE ARAI FATALITY!

THE INQUEST

An ’inquest was held at To Aral yesterday afternoon before Mr. W. E. Akroyd, acting-coroner, in connection with tlio death of James Cookery, who was found dead in his bed on Monday morning. The following jury was empanelled: Messrs W. M. Kirk (foreman), F. James, E. P. Roberts, C. Gibson, T.. 11. Pardee, and T. Lynns. Sorgt. Hutton conducted, the enquiry on behalf of the police. Jlnngi Jones stated that lie lastsiw deceased alive and well on Saturday morning between 10 a.m. and 12 a.in.

Robert Preston statod that in consequence of information received from a little Maori girl lie went to deceased’s residence and found him lying in bed quite dead. Ho then communicated with the police. Harold Ka.no, chemist, stated that on tlio 28th inst. deceased came, to bis shop with two prescriptions from Dr. Reeves to lie made up, one of thorn being for sciatica. Tlio two prescriptions wero supplied to him, one in a pentagonal blue bottle, and the other in the ordinary modicum bottle. The blue bottle contained a formula of camphor, acetic field and turpontino for external application only.

Dr. A. P. Coker, who conducted 1 a post, mortem examination, stated that deceased was a stout man and, his organs were diseased. The throat and tongue appeared to be blackened by some corrosive. Ilis throat and windpipe were much inflamed, and there wero traces of tlio smell of turpentine and camphor in the throat, which was also corroded; Deceased had evidently had a severe fit, of coughing, which led to difficulty of breathing. Nono of the liniment was found in tlio stomach, having only reached as far as the throat. The liniment produced would have the effect ho mentioned. In his opinion death was duo (o asphyxiation and heart failure.

Constable Dandy gave evidence as to finding the body in bed, ..with mucous matter at" the mouth; and arose. The blue bottle of liniment was within easy roach of deceased oil a chair, and about three talilespoonFills had Deon taken out of it. The other bottle of medicine was oil the opposite side of the room, and both bottles wore properly labelled. The jury returned a verdict that, deceased mot his death by misadventure. in drinking liniment instead of medicine.