Inquest on Mr Halse.
DEATH BY STRYCHNINE
(PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) , New Plymouth, this clay.
At the inquest which was held on the body of Mr Halse, at Waitara, yesterday, it was adduced in’ evidence that the deceased’s partner had only recently become aware of Mr Halse’s financial position. On Mr Roy speaking' to Mr Halse about the matter, the latter appeared to be much distressed but agreed that a meeting of creditors should be called. It was customary for deceased to spend Wednesday at Waitara, where he transacted business, and at which place he had a furnished dwelling house much nse-d by the family as a summer resort. On ; account *.of Wednesday being the usual day for Mr Halse to transact business, at Waitara, nothing was thought of his going down there on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning he was seen by several residents who said ho looked distracted ; and during the latter part of the day he appears to have kept to his house. His partner having some business with the deceased went down by the train yesterday morning to Waitara, and found the door of the house opened. Mr Roy went into the deceased’s bed-room, and there he found Mr Halse lying on the bed with face down dead; both arras were underneath the chest with hands clenched. Deceased had his boots and, coat off, and a tumbler containing a few crystals of strychnine was on a chest of drawers. A.letter was there addressed to his son-in-law in which deceased had written, “ I have thought the matter over, or at least endeavored to do so, and matters will be facilitated by my stepping aside. My head is bursting. My farewell ends.” On searching the room in which
the deceased lay, a half-ounce phial containing strychnine, properly labelled poison, was found. It had been made up and been in deceased’s possession for fifteen years.
The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict <f That the deceased died from the effects of strychnine administered by himself during,a fit of temporary insanity.” 1
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PATM18820414.2.10
Bibliographic details
Patea Mail, 14 April 1882, Page 3
Word Count
343Inquest on Mr Halse. Patea Mail, 14 April 1882, Page 3
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