INQUEST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1313, 10 March 1885, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at Temuka on Saturday, before J. Baswick, Esq., Coroner, aud a jury, of whom Mr W. Ashwell was chosen foreman, on the body of W. R. Uprichard. The following evidence was given

Mrs Uprichard : lam the wife of deceased. About four o’clock on Thursday afternoon last my husband came home and said that he was very ill. I told him he had better go to bed. About half an hour afterwards ho told me that he had taken poison, I sent immediately for Dr Campbell, but he sent back word that ho had met with an accident, and was unable to come. I then sent for Dr Hayes, who came in about an hour. Before the doctor came Mr Russell gave my husband an emetic of mustard and water. My husband vomited all the time, and, gradually getting worse, died about 1.10 p.m. on Friday. He had not been iu good health for some time past. 1 had no idea that he was going to commit suicide. Lately I noticed an alteration in his manner, because when he was playing with the children he would suddenly illtreat them. My husband’s age was 29 years. L. Rayner ; 1 am assistant chemist to my father. The deceased came into my father’s shop on Thursday last about 2 o’clock, and asked for some poison for poisoning rats. I showed him some prepared phosphorus. Deceased asked if arsenic would do, 1 told him phosphorus was better. He replied that he would take arsenic. . I gave him arsenic, but colored it black, so that he should not use it in mistake. Deceased was about ten minutes in the shop. He seemed in his usual state of health.

Dr Hayes: I was called to attend to deceased. I asked him what time it was that he had taken the poison. He said about I o’clock. I used the stomach pump, and gave him the usual antidotes foi poison. I had no hopes of saving him, as the poison had been taken about eight hours. Deceased said the reason he hud taken poison was that he had been doing nothing lately. The deceased appeared in'a good state of mind. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from the effects of poison administered by himself, but there was not sufficient evidence to show his state of mind at the time he committed the deed.