INQUEST.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1046, 1 November 1877, Page 3

INQUEST.

DEATH PKOM STEYCHNINE. An inquest was held yesterday at the Hospital, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., coroner, on the body of John Elvines, who was found dead in the back premises of his residence, Manchester street south, on Tuesday morning last. After the jury had viewed the body, the following evidence was taken:— Sergeant Wilson, called, stated that on the previous morning, at twenty-five minutes past .five o’clock, he was informed by deceased’s eon that he thought his father had committed suicide in the water closet, at the rear of his house, Manchester street. He went immediately with the constable on the beat, and found the deceased as described. Deceased seemed to have’ fallen back in one corner. There was no mark of violence on him. He was warm, but quite dead. On searching the body found a knife, half-sovereign, and a shilling. Dr. Campbell had been sent for, and on Ids arrival he pronounced the man to be dead. Witness had searched the bed which he was told deceased had slept in, but could not find any bottle or any evidence of poison in the room. Mrs Elvines, called, stated that her husband went to bed on Monday night at eleven o’clock, in good health and spirits. He had been worried a good deal lately, in consequence of having moved from Lyttelton to Christchurch. A little before four o’clock next morning she heard the door creak, and found that her husband had left the room. She watched for him to come back for some time, and thought she must then have gone to sleep. As when she awoke again it was daylight, and he had not come back. She then got alarmed, and went out into the yard to the closet and found the door locked. On looking through a crack she saw her husband there. She went to a friend, who came and opened the door, and found her husband dead. William Pattman, called, gave evidence of being at deceased’s house on the Monday night, and having played a game of cards with him. Deceased seemed to be very cheerful, and they had a glass of grog together, but he was quite sober. Witness slept at deceased’s house, and went to bed at eleven o’clock- Next morning Mrs Elvines came to his room aad awoke him, saying she thought there was something the matter with John. He got up and went to the back of the house, and looked through a crack of the watercloset door. Saw deceased there, and called to him, but he did not answer. Witness then forced open the door, and found deceased dead and sitting with his head back. He was quite warm. Dr. Campbell, called, stated that on Tuesday morning he was called to sec the deceased. Found him lying down in the water-closet at the back of his own house. He was quite dead, but warm. Had made a post mortem examination of the body. On opening the abdomen found the liver presenting the apEearance of tatty degeneration and much enlarged. The stomach was sprinkled over with small crystals, which, on testing, •witness found to be pure strychnine. The blood was very thin, and the brain congested. Witness was of opinion that deceased hud died by poisoning from strychnine. The jury returned a verdict “That deceased bad died from the effects of strychnine which was found in his body, but there was no evidence to show in what state of mind deceased was in when he swallowed the poison.”