THE INQUEST

Te Aroha News, Volume XI, Issue 1725, 27 March 1895, Page 2

THE INQUEST

Auckland, Monday. This morning an inquest was held before Dr. Philson in to he circumstances surrounding the death of Philip John LeQiuesne, found dead in a dwelling in Brisbane-street, Archill, early on Saturday morning last. The evidence of Dr Beale showed than there were no external signs of having been run over by a heavy vehicle. Witness stated that he made a post mortem examination of the body. He first opened the skull, which shewed no sign of fracture or contusion. The outer envelope of the brain was uninjured, the substance of the braiu being normal and healthy. Witness next examined the chest and found the right lung healthy, the left lung being highly congested, hut not inflamed,. The normal valves were healthy, and the aorta sound. He 1 tstly opened the abdomen. The stomach contained a small quantity of half- digested food, which smelt strongly of chloral. The stomach, liver, kidneys, and spleen were all healthy. Witness’ belief was that indirectly a dose of chloral was the cause of death. Witness further explained that death might not have occurred had deceased’s,lung been healthy. Witness was not aware that deceased was in the habit taking chloral.’ A drachm might, be sufficient, to cause death. It proves fatal by paralysing the heart and brain. Witness further stated that he did not remark any smell of alcohol or opium in the contents of deceased stomach. Witness said the caused by the accident would render, the chloral more 'dangerous than in a normal state.

After a few minutes’ . deliberation thejury returned a verdict : “That deceased died from an overdose of chloral, bu>whether taken intentionally or not there was no evidence to show.” The jury also added a rider exonerating the driver of the bus from all blame." ■ •