INQUEST.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1925, Page 1

INQUEST.

GR.ICYMOITH, April 29

All inquest was held at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon touching the death of Alfred "William Kenning, which occurred at the Grey Ttiver Hospital on Sunday afternoon. The inquest was held before Mr 11. F. Kilgour, acting-coroner and the following jury of four, Messrs G. Perotti. It. Kirk. J. Keating and 0. McLean. Sergeant fryer eondueted tlie ease on behalf of the police. Dr. Bay. meedical praetitioner, residing at Blackball stated he remembered the deceased coining to him on April gist, and stating that lie had taken a teaspoon ltd of poison. He vomited immediately afterwards. On the. following day witness again saw deceased, who was then suffering from phosphorous poisoning. Witness then ordered deceased to the hospital. Deceased admitted that he had been drinking a lot. He had arrived home at A o'elneic one morning in n depressed state of mind and had taken the poison.

David Armstrong, storekeeper, of Xgahore, stated that at 0.30 o’clock on the morning of the 21st April deceased called to him (witness) to “conic on round; I want to have a. word with von.’’ Witness asked deceased what was the matter and deceased told him that he had taken some rat poison. The tube of poison produced in court was the .same as that which deceased had shown witness. Witness then produced a eup of -water with. a. good measure of salt in it and deceased immediately vomited. Witness then sent the deceased to Doctor Bay, at Blackball. Alter he had seen the doctor, deceased seemed to improve. hut on Friday morning he was complaining oT pains In the chest. A.s lie did not improve by the .Saturday afternoon witness again sent for flic doctor and brought deceased a eup of milk and soda. When Dr Bay arrived he ordered deceased to the hospital.

Dr. Moure. R.A1.0.. at the Grey River Hospital, depoced to deceased being admitted to that institution at -I p.m. on April With last, lie was suffering from the effects of poison. There were, symptoms of abdominal trouble, and the pulse, though not irregular, was .soft. At *2 p.m. the following day the deceased siillereii a heart attack. He recovered from this, however, and his condition became satisfactory. Shortly afterwards he took another had turn, dying at 1.20 p.m. Hi accordance with instruction witness made a post mortem examination the following day. and found the lungs were deeply congested and in an early pneumonic condition. The abdominal cavity contained blood, and there were signs of bleeding at the back of the cavity. The liver was

.slightly enlarged. The cause of death was coma, due to early atrophy of li, liver, as a late complication of plios- ] hot us poisoning. To Mr. i’enuli: Deceased’s -into of mind was clear.

.Manuel Freitas sawmill hand, staled that the deceased \va> a hrether-in-law of his. Witness last saw deceased on April 18th. ami he was then in his usual -late of health. Dec eared was a married man and his wile was staying m Hokitika, owing to the state of her health. Dei eased, to his know ledge, was not subject to drinking bouts. The jury retired at 2.1 b p.m.. returning at 2.bb p in. with a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.