The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-10-22


THE CoRoNER's INQUEST ON THE DEATH az IHo'
MAS NUGENT.-The inquest held by Coroner VIII
TING on the body of THOMAS NUaENT, who died
suddenly, on the 18th inst, at the house OF R1cu-
AID MURPHY, No. Queen street, was terminated
yesterday by the official report of DIR. JOS A. YATES,
the physician who was called in to examine the
.ase. From his testimony-=which included care
full Investigation and posi- nlOrteri examlna ION
together with that of other witnesses, it appears
mat the rumors in circulation a,trbutihg foul play
to the associates of the deceased were totally un-
founded. So
Coroner WHITING desires us to state that the
report which prevailed of NUaEST being the pos
SCISSOR OF $500 proves to be incorrect. The estl-
mony published below is all of tho evidence that
was elected at the investigation, and contains
full report of the case.
Richard Murphy tes.i6ed-That the deceased
came to board with him on the second day OF DC
tober, and died on the 18th. That he left depo-
nents house about eight O'Clock A. Nj. of the latter
day. and returned for the last time about four
o'clock p. NJ; in the interim, however, going i'll
aud out several times. That shortly after four
O'Clock, deponent was sent for and informed that
something was wrong with Nugent, the deceased;
and when deponent came home lie found Nugent
living on a settee, with his head on pillow. He
felt his pulse found it very strong; raised up his
head, gave him drink OF whiskey, and then went
for DR.. Yates. When he returned Nugent was dead,
and deponent Immediately notified the Coroner OF
the facts.
Deponent further testified that OH tho day fol-
lowing that upon which the deceased camc to
board with him, Nugent and his comrade, Charles
Earle, went to the drug store OF Messrs. Dawson
& Blackman, in Broad street, bought tve cents
worth of the oil of vitriol brought it home and
deceased put seventeen drops OF it into glass OF
water and drank it. Deponent asked him what he
did this for and he answered ''to make him sober.
That when deceased put down the bottle, the cork
slipped out and some Of the liquor spilled and
burnt his clothes. That about the 5th instant the
deceased deposited with deponent $3.50 in currency
and that deponent did not see him have any
other money at that time or since. Deponent paid
the funeral expenses of the deceased.
Charles Earle teStlfedLThat he was member Of
Company D, 18th United States Infantry, of which
company the deceased was also member. Depo-
nent was discharged from the Company on the
Goth day Of September last in Fe:nandna, Florida,
and deceased was discharged four days afterwards
at the same place. They came to Charleston to-
gether and boarded at Mr., Murphy's, No. 2 Queen
street. Deponent and deceased were paid of in
Charleston. Deceased received something over
5000 on the Sd instant. Deceased asked deponent
to show bim where he could find drug store, as
he wanted to get some acid. Deponent went with
him to drug store on Broad street, and deceased
called for five cents worth Of the oil OF vtrol which
he obtained, put the phial in his pocket, went to
the boarding house and took two drinks OF viii !
key with about ten drops of the oil in each. De-
ponent parted with the deceased about eight
O'clock, A. NJ, on the day of his death. Deponent
went to the boarding house about three O'Clock
that afternoon, and found the deceased lying on
the settee. Deponent thought he was asleep.
About half hour after that he found that he was
dead. Deceased was very Incorporate man.
Deponent had never seen deceased drink oil of
yitrol before that day.