The Inquest Yesterday.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3531, 20 April 1880, Page 2

The Inquest Yesterday.

We conclude our report of the inquest yesterday:— John William Hall deposed that he was a chemist, carrying on business at Grahamstovrn and Shortland. The deceased had been managing his Shortland branch for the past two months. On Monday morning he went down to the shop and found it shut. He then went to the back door, and hammered at it with a stone for some time, but failed to elicit a response. He then looked through the deceased's bedroom window, and saw him lying upon his bed apparently dead. He made his way in the best way he could, and found deceased was perfectly dead. He found a chair standing near the bed, on which was a glass of water. His clothes were lying near, as if he had ; undressed himself in the usual way. Did not notice any particular smell in the room. The shop was pretty much in its usual state.; He thought that the laudanum bottle had less in it than it should have had. The chloral bottle was near the scales, wlich was its usual position, and in one of the pans of the scales there was a dram weight. The other pan was perfectly clean. There was a smell v of laudanum in the measure, but "as there was an entry in the book that laudanum was sold on Saturday night he did not think any importance could be attached to that fact. On two or three occasions ! witness had found him heavily asleep at nine in the morning, when the shop should have been open. . He had strong suspicions regarding his sobriety, but not to any great extent. He had also suspicion that, he used narcotics to induce sleep. Deceased oh one occasion admitted to witness' son that he had once taken a dose of chloroform to cause him to sleep.' During the time deceased was in witness' employ he was cheerful, and apparently had nothing preying on his mind. Witness did not think he had taken an intentional overdose of poison. He did not at all suspect that. By Mr Kenny : The poison taken did not account for all the laudanum that had been taken put of the bottle. He was present when Melton's portmanteau was opened. He, saw a bottle of dark-looking fluid taken out of it, and examined it. It was the taste of chloral. He judged that it had not been opened for some days—probably a week. He was of this opinion, because when he opened the bottle it gave a loud report, which showed that decomposition had set in, which would not be accomplished very rapidly. His monetary affairs were in a satisfactory state. He last saw him alive on Saturday morning, when he appeared to be cheerful. On Monday morning he entered the house by the back window, because all the doors were locked. He had to open the window by the aid of a chisel! It had not apparently been opened for some time. • By. Jurors : Deceased . was the sole occupant of the housed George Harcourt deposed that he was a battery owner. He was well acquainted with deceased. On Saturday night he was at the shop with him at a quarter to ■10 o'clock, and remained until he closed up at 11 o'clock., During the time he was there an ounce ot laudanum was sold to Mr J. J. Foy, and a small portion to a woman.' He might state that he went to see Melton to ask him to assist witness in some chemical tests.. Melton consented, and at 11 o'clock they went t6 Grahamstown, deceased remaining in his company until five minutes past 12 o'clock. At the Bank of New Zealand corner they met Mr Brassey, junior, and the two left witness and. went to Shortland.., Witness knew that' Melton was in the habit of taking chloral and chloroform to induce sleep. He was once before overdosed. That was in October, the week after Kent shot himself. He was not aware whether he had any reasons for committing a rash deed. On Saturday evening he asked witness whether he thought there was any opening at Christchurch. Witness knew that he was not in difficulties.

By Jurors: The deceased was of an excitable temperament.'- He was not fond of drink. - •

Edwin T. Brassey, deposed to going home with deceased on Saturday night. He appeared in good health and spirits. W. Constant, proprietor of the Camden Hotel, deposed that deceased took his meals in his hotel. He did not conue over on Sunday last. " William Eowe deposed that he had seen deceased alive in his shop at seven o'clock on Sunday evening. He appeared all right. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased met his death through taking an overdose of choral or some other narcotic—probably for the purpose of producing sleep.