The morning call., 1893-06-30
mot APPROVED"
DR.. Hughes on the Van
PeIt Verdict.
The Coroner Does Not Think the
Evidence at the Inquest War
ranted Finding of Suicide.

Coroner Hughes did not approve of the
verdict of the jury at the inquest held
upon Frederick. G. Van Pelt, the man
Montgomery street. on Tuesday afternoon.
The inquest was held late Yesterday after
noon. and the iury'S verdict was not on ly
that the deceased rane to his death from
opium poisoning, but that it was from an
overdose administered by himself. It was
to the further finding" that DR.. Hughes
took exception. because. as he said, the
evidence did not justify such @ conclusion
Accordingly he signed it as not approved.
The witnesses examined we're: Mrs.
McInnis, the laDdlady of the lodging house
in which Van Pelt was discovered; Mrs.
Clara d. Tucker, the unfortunate mans
mother-in-Iaw; Police Officer Bradley
Gale. Chemist Charles o. Darlington and
Deputy Coroner Jones. All the papers
In evidence. including the letters from the
woman Hattie WinkIer. The widow was
not present, being Frustrated with grief at
her mothers rooms in the GiraTd Hotel,
Oakland.
According to Mrs. McInnis' testimony
Van Pelt had used forty ounces of ch!or0-
form during the few days he stopped at
following Tuesday. She had once found
HIM under the Influence Of chloroform and
sent for DR.. Davidson, but that physician
would not respond, so she said. 1t was
developed later in the evidence at the in
quest, however. that Van Pelt had been
treated by DIR. Davidson. who had pre-
scrlbed bromide of potassium mixture.
And the doctor had given him money, too
gave him dollar Monday night. Van Pelt
telling him then that he was hungry aud
needed some monev. The bottles of
chloroform used By Van Pelt were of the
four-Ounce size.
Mrs. Tucker said that Van Pelt for the
three years and ten months they had been
married had always llved happily with his
wife, and had never threatened to get Il
divorce. The only times they ever had
any words were whenever the husband
wanted his drug and the wife objected.
During the two months the Van Pelts
lived at Santa Rosa lie did not use chlbr0-
form at all, so his wife said. He was once
taken to the Receiving Hospital in this
city, however. while under the drugs in
fnence. That was on January 5. from
523 hearny street, when his baby was only
three weeks old. Witness s0n-in-law was
not very successful in securing employ
ment at his profession of bookkeeping
lie worked about foIr months here for the
Singer Sewing Machine COMPANY and one
week for the Golden Rule Bazaar.
But he never threatened to commit
suicide" said Mrs. Tucker, although he
would say occasionally, particularly when
anxious for his drug. that he could not see
very much to live tor. He left his vile OIL
May 81 oslensibly 10 go East"
Chemist Darlington testified to finding
whatwonld amount to between twenty and
twenty-five grains of opium in the dead
mans stomach if in the solid form, or
three drachms if in liquid tncture. Still
In - i,,1r tl,t a
person addicted to the use OF the drug,
nor did he think the inhaling of chloro-
form would affect the action OF the stom-
ach upon the opium. But to person not
accustomed to the latter sop0rific ten or
twelve drops would be fatal.
A newspaper Clipping stating that Van
Pelt deserted his family in Santa Rosa was
also admitted in evidence. The jury, after
very brief delberaton. found the verdict
men toned.