INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2453, 15 February 1882, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday, at three o'clock, at Mrs Eisdon’a boarding house, Madras street south, before Dr. Coward, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr W. Godao was chosen foreman, on the body of Burton Pye, ivho was found dead on the business premises of hia father, Mr T. Pye, gasfitter, High street, on Monday evening last. After viewing the body, the following witnesses were called : —William Mundy. gasfitter, deposed that ho had known dee used about six years, and last saw him alive on the 7th of February, and he was somewhat addicted to drinking. Had noticed that he was not bo lively of late as he used to he. On Monday last witness came down to the shop, and the boy Wood told him that Pye was asleep np-stairs. Witness then went away to work. About eleven o’clock the boy came and said that Pye had blood on his face. Witness then returned to the shop and found the bcdy of deceased as the lad had described to him. The pnt produced contained a mixture of corrosive sublimate and. vinegar, which was used in brorzmg. There was more of the corrosive sub imate in a black bottle. The pot was near deceased.

Kmma Bidden deposed that deseasad had lodged with her for two years, tie was somewhat addicted to drink. Witness last saw him alive on Fnnday evening about half-past six. After tea he went out, and she never saw him alive again. On Sunday last she remonstrated with him about having been away during the past week, and he replied there would be more trouble tc-morrow. He was sober.

Dr Syoces deposed to hating made a postmortem examination of the decs'sed. Tbe stomach and pullet were in a congested state, and the stomach was full of bloody fluid. Ha attributed death to a violent irritative poison, which had hem swallowed. The bloed on the face was apparently caused by bleeding from the nostrils.

The lad Wood, who found deceased, deposed to having found the door of the store room locked on the inside. He kicked at it, and knocked the key out Unlocking it with another key, he noticed one foot of deceased hanging over the stairs, and ihongfat he was asleep. Shortly before eleven o'clock he went to call him. and saw his face was black and covered with blood. Ho then fetched Mnndy. Deceased was not in tbe ha;,it of keeping either beer or spirits in the shop. This concluded the evidence, and the juryreturned a verdict “ That deceased had died from poison, bnt bow administered th re was no evidence to show.”