New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-11
CORONER CONNERY OUTDONE.
CURIOUS TESTIMONY OF A PHYSICIAN.

CURIOUS lbs IlAON1 Or n fHtoiNlhN.
Some very queer proc. edngs took plsce before Cor
| orer f. 2. MUrrel az Port Chester. on Wednesday
last on the occaa of an inquest being held upon the
body of Ban ard ShanneIy, . native Of Ireland who
had for some time past been employed ss teacher in
the Roman CATH Ole school, and had also occasionally
sssisted in the religious exercises of the Catholic
Church in the above AIMED place His superior edu-
cation and religion did po', however prevent him
fiom bayr spree now and then the last Of which,
on Monday AID Tuescsy the 9Th and 7th instant,
proved fatal about O'Clock on Wednesday morning.
Esrly the tame day Coroner Morre proceeded to hold
| an inquest upon the body the deceased.
Dr. f +. Mathe vs., being sworu testified that he
was called to attend the deceased about o'clock on
Tue.day evening last He found the deceased sitting
| in chair supported by another man The deceAsed
wss tier pale cod ano insensble with pu'e feeble
and bis respiration irregular and he rsmsised in tht
condition until IL O'Clock, when witness left. Wit
ness when asked by the Coroner for his opinion as to
the cause of death this case, replied that the death
ofthe deceased was caused by narcotsm produced by
| bad hqnor and opium.
Mr. Shanpery wife of the deceased, testified tina.
| her husband came home early in the evening quite
intoxicated that he rent bis boy for three cents worth
| of aueanum, which the deceased swallowed at one
| dose.
! The druggists clerk testified that the amount Of
lsudanum cold to the boy was about half an ounce.
Other testified to the fact that the deceased
was person tf Incorporate habits. Two liquor vend
ers were called TO the stand but nothing elected
from them, except that the deceased had purchased
| from ene of them ard drank email glass of beer.
| One of the jurors then requested that certain
other hquor dealer Of the vlsge be brought before
them aud examined in the matter The Coroner replied
that the person wanted did not sell rum; that he had
made an agreement with his landlord not TO sell it.
Several members of the Jury assured the Coroner that
the place KEEP, by the individual referred to was no.
torious rum-hoe where men got drunk every day. the
Coroner however was MEMORABLE and refused 10 make
apy effort to ascertain where the deceased procured the
bad rum.
Dr. Matthews suggested that other physicians should
he called ifasmuch as their opinion might possibly
differ from his own as regarded the effect of half an
| OUNCE Of lsudarum; he having testified that that
quantity would not 10 ordinary cases produce DEATH
DR. Nesel being called testified that one half ounce
Of laudsnum won not produce death unless there was
| zone organic disease present.
The Jury having obtained clue as to where the
deceased obtained liquor Notified the Coroner of the
fact and urged that tue keeper of the groggery in
question be summoned to appear and testify. To this
request the Coroner epled that would be useless to
sunu on that man; that would be impossible to find
ont where the deceased had obtained his liquor, and
for that reason be would not him TO attend.
The Jury sgain insisted upon having this liquor dealer
brought before them; aud again toe Coroner persist
| ently refused to comply with their wishes. The in
| quest was then adjourned for dinner. On ress-
semblrg the Coroner informed the Jury that be had
visited the iquorstller whom they accused Of selling
the bad rum and he declared that the deceased had
not been in bis bouse within two weeks. The Jury
then asked that certain other rumseler be subpe'
nGed, to which request the Coroner replied that the
man was lame end il would therefore be impossible for
him TO obey the sumn ons; besides, il could not be
proved where the deceased procured the liquor.
Dr. Thomas Close on being called, testified that the
administration Of one half ounce of audanum each Of
the persons then present in the would cause the
death Of least half Of hem. and that would require
larger dose Of audanum to cause the death Of per-
con OF Incorporate habits than a temperate one One
of the Jurors asked the witness what the effect CT
bad rum was on the constitution, TO which DR. C.
plied that the e. Ct Of bad the same good
rum that it was the alcohol that acted upon the sys
tenn, ana the idea that bad brandy would hart
no-e than good brandy absurd that man
could dirk cheap brandy and 1--we long az he could
if be drank the best.
A Juror here asked the witness if common liquors
were not usually drpgged in the manufacture Of
them.
DIR. c. remarked that ifthey were, he did not know
ii; he had never heard that they were.
DR.. Matthews, in answer 10 que-ton asked by a
Juror, remarked that he would have 10 differ in opin-
ION from DR.. Cose to the effects Of good and bsd
brsrdy and in confirm alton Of bis views be quoted
some high medical authority, which stated tiat vanous
oeady isors were introduced in the manufacture OF
common liquors; that per,on might pos'ibiy make
use Of pure brandy without any sermons Effects ana ne
bad known two glasses of common hqaos TO cause
deluum tremens-
The Coroner then stated that be perfectly agreed
with Dr. Close. he believed the. man you'd hive
iust as long If be diark bad run as be would II ne
oreIk good liquor. The Coroner took DIS ses Deside
several Of the Jurors and observed to them that it
was fudge to think that the deceased Died IRON any
other cau,e than he effects OF laudsnum.
The Jury requested another adjournment, for tie
purpose of getting the testimony Of Psrick Clark #
New Rochelle, friend Of deceased, and who hsd beea
With him curing bis spree the two preceding days;
In. the Corrrer refused 70 comply with this request
also. cay pg that such course would be of NJ u.e.
One Of the Jurors then said th.. the cau1e Of death
bad sot been sa fSctOry asce-taiaed ard suggested
that an Analysis Of the stomach should be made bat
he Coroner, asceItsnng tba. the cos: would prob
sty amount 10 $780, said tbs, the Board Of Supervisors
would peyerpsy It, sDc therefore Re should 70. have
Il dore; vhersupon g JEIor remarked tat II tho de-
eeasee had beer ricb ran irstead OF poor cne tie