INQUEST AT EKETAHUNA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 4002, 2 January 1892, Page 2

INQUEST AT EKETAHUNA.

Tho Dr M'Lonaaa. An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of the late Dr | Warwiok Guy M'Lennan was held before Mr F. von Redin and a jury of Bix on Thursday. The following jury was empanelled :--Messrs vf. A. Rowse (foreman), Brenmuhl, Wright, Dowdswoll, Fogdon, and Johnson, Thejuryhaviugviewed the body, the following evidence was called : Eobina Higgins, housemaid at the Temperance Hotel, deposed: I recollect Wednesday, I sawDrMoLennan going upstairs to his room about 11 a.m. He'seemed shaky. About 20 minutes after 1 heard a noise in his room like a fall. I did not look in, I heard him breathing when passing the door. I had not heard it before. '■••■■', . By a juror; He seemed & little strange. I knew he had been drinking. Emma Woods, sworn, stated: I am housekeeper at the Temperance Hotel. I recollect yesterday. I did not see Dr McLenuau alive. I wont to his room at ten minutes to five and found his body dead on tho floor of his room, The door was shut,. It was usual for him to Bleep in the afternoon. D, H. Roberts, bookkeeper for Mr Jones, deposed: I recollect Wednesday. I saw the doctor at 10.80 alive. He came into the office at that time. He 8 eemed very shaky. A 8 near as 'I could judge he had been drinking, He asked me to accompany biin to the surgery and watch him make up a prescription< for himself. He weighed6ograinsofHydrate Chloral, 20 grains of Bromide of Jfotash, ; . and 1 fluid ounce, of water. I have seen him take 120 grains before., I next saw him dead, and reported this to Constable Roache. I saw him at breakfast on Monday; He seemed quite sober. I next saw him on; Wednesday at 9,80, and he was then under tho influence of liquor, Ho did not complain of sickness. I have seen the bottles since, but thereidid- not appear to' bejany more chloral taken, Dr Beard, sworn, stated: I have seen tho body of Dr McLennan, 1 made a post mortal examination and found nothing wrong with the, chest or abdomen, excepting enlargement of the liver, and a certain amount of fatty degeneration, but not to a large extent, The stomach i'nd bowels wero very empty, flatulent distention of the stomach pressing upon tho heart, In my opinion the cause of death wa,s syncope. .Hearing from the last witness - that Dr McLennan had taken a dose of chloride of potash, seeing that he had taken no food, and from the fact that I hear be walked, upstairs a few minutes previous, this would increase, his : tendency to,>yii : cope. If the doctor had beeniritjk;, ■ ing it would hasten the tendency to faint.;' • >*'■ '['' -.■•■■' > : - ; '- ; : " Constable Roache*'deposed: : ; At' 5 p.m.,yesterday Mr/Roberts,reported to me that DrMcLennan'was dead in hisJoomaitheTemperancoHpter.Jl went there and found' him : on tbe , floor of the room lying, on his left , side, dead.' He was partially rigid, i I took 'cherge of the body and 'had it I removed to a, safe place, 1 I eawDr/ ' Beard make a pott wrkfjilW,w\)> :!

The j dry thou rfltiiihied the ing verdiot:—lt is opinion of the jury, after hearingl ue jgifl9 evidence, that the cause of .tpVdeatlfiSßH of Dr. MoLennan ; was ili!tttfenlßfflß distention of the stomach, pressing onYjjHU| he heart aud causing syncope. . '^HH