The morning call., 1893-06-06
THE BATH DEATH.
Inquest on the Body of
D. B. Brown.
Large Number of Witnesses Exam
ined, but Little Deveioped-More
to Testify This Afternoon.

The inquest on the body of David B.
Brown, who came to his death at the Har-
Dor View baths on May23, was commenced
at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. A large
number of witnesses were examined. but
few developments were made. J. H. Dick
inSon, counsel for the family, was present
and asked a number of questions through
the Coroner. Two or three of the jurymen
apparently took an earnest interest in the
case, and also asked several pointed ques-
tions.
1t was evident from the questions
prompted By Attorney Dickinson that
the family are doing everything possible
TO upset the theory of suicide and an at
tempt was made to show that the stomach
OF the deceased might have been tampered
with, and that the laudaDum had found
It's way into the stomach after death.
The fisherman Olson testified that when
he reached Brown with his boat be was
sinking, which is something new. j. d.
Brown, the dereased's son. spoke of his
fathers jOyiai nature and of his happy
social dumes ic and business relations, and
said that he was always in perfect health
DR.. Madill, the family physician, tes-
tified that he was present at the autopsy.
He found the heart slightly hypertrophied
and be believed death resulted from a
shock caused by immersion. He did not
examine the lungs sufficiently to find evil
dence OF asphyxia. There appeared to be
more air than water on the lungs. He
thought death might have resulted from
drowning and answered the next question
by admitting that in such event there
should have heen asphyXia. he thought
there was sufficient hypertrophy to cause
death after sudden shock.
DR.. A. p. O'Bren, who made the autopsy.
testified there was no evidence of as
phyXia. The air in the lungs was greatly
IL excess of water. Under such circum-
stances death could not arise from as
phyXis. Death by shock, accompanied
| by hypertrophy, was possible. but not
probable. He did not think drowning
was the cause of DEATH AS he was unable
to find sufficient cause for death he re-
moved the stomach, put it in jar, sealed
II and sent it out for analysis. Ii was i'm
possible for the stomach to have been in
sight till sealed up. There were no per-
foratons in the region of the stomach or
anywhere on the body.
Z. l.. Darlington. chemist, testified that
he made the analysis of the stomach. He
found on opening it An unmiStakable odor
OF opium, but not before. There was a
considerable amount of opium present, ex-
ceeding 10 grains, sufficient to cause
death. One grain of crude opium is con-
| sidered medicinal dose He detailed the
process of making the analysis.
joseph Calegaris. chemist, testified that
man came into his store some days ago
and asked for laudanum. He was stout
man. broad shouldered, had gray hair and
beard around his face, butno mustache.
The man said he was sea-captain. The
witness did not know Mr.. Brown. 1t was
about II 80 or u O'Clock ia the day. The
witness told him he could not sell lauGa-
mum even with doc'or's prescription. He
thought the man wore soft hat.
a. NJ Martin stood up and witness said
the man was if anything stouter, but two
or three inches shorter. Mr.. Martins
height is six feet two inches. Later on the
deceased'S son was recalled and said he
was six feet clear and his father was about
two inches taller.
Several witnesses were called who saw
the deceased either on the morning of
May % or few days prior, and all test-
fed that he was in good spirits and good
health. Others testified TO seeing him al
the baths and described his swimming and
what followed.
Abont 4:30 there were no more witnesses
present, but as Attorney Dickinson wanted
TO examine few more the Coroner agreed
10 issue subpenas, and continued the in
quest to O'Clock this afternoon.