The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-03-29
Tho Inquest Concluded.

Iho thducHv &UuttuucUs
The jury In the case OF John Devipe
held a final session at the Coronor's
ONCE last evening, when the following
WAS heard:
DR.. Baird testified that he Ia the
Coroner's physician and made the
post. mortem examination In the case
OF John Devine. He found the brain
healthy. but there was IL slight affeo-
ton of the lungs, caused by on old at
tack OF pleurisy, but this was not eufii-i
Client to cause his death. The witness
found the stomach badly irritatedl
from something he had taken, which
no doubt caused his death. He could
not shy what he had taken, as there
are number Of polsons that would
have caused the irritation, among
them being cobalt. He had no doubt,
but the Cobalt was the cause OF his
death.
In answer to questions. the witness
said that under certain conditions
there would be sufficient acid In the
stomach to cause the poison TO take
effect. In the opinion OF the witness.
II the man would have had prompt
medical attention, the poison might
have been neutralized. and his life
saved.
DIR, Harris testified that he assisted
at the post m0rtem examination. and
eorroborated the testimony OF tile pre-
vious witness. From what he saw he
was under the impression that his
death WAS caused by the drug.
DR.. Win. @. Pierce testified that be
resides at No. S27 Washington street.
lie had attended the family OF John
Deyine and was called to 20 to the
house about 7.20 O'clock last Sunday
morning, but when he reached there
the man was dead. He thought Devine
WINS we'll preserved man for his age.
and as general thing he enjoyed
good health. The witness had attend.
en- him for colds ague or some other
minor ailments, but never knew him
to have any stomach trouble. When
called TO the house he saw q, dark pow
der In a glass. and was also given a
package containing a powder similar
to that in the glass. Saw label on
the bottle with the word Cobalt written
on IL. and upon opening the package
afterwards, found one inside with a
ekul! and cross bones marked on It
and labeled poison. He thought this
was precautionary measure on the
lpRft OF the druggist to prevent acci-I
dents. The inside label was soiied. as
though 1t had been handled by someI
one.
Miss Anna Lawson testified that shel
is employed by Mr.. Belt as cashier,
and saw Deyine when he came In last
evening. lie asked very dis
tinctly for 10 cents worth OF Cobalt
salt.
Fred Moore went to the man to
wait ON him. When he said he wanted
10 cents worth of Cobalt salt Moore
FnTnnfnd hiS ranllGt and nSEn1 linn III
that was what he wanted. Deyine said
it was. Moore then went and asked
the prescription clerk something.
could not hear what WAS said. M0ore
then went and got tho Cobalt salt bot
tie. When lie was measuring 1t out
Deyine said IL looked dark. Monrel
said that 1t was Cobalt salt and asked
III that was what lie wanted. DevineI
said that was what he wanted. After
get ing The Cobalt he left the store"
Michael Devine testified that he is a.
son OF the dead man and was told byl
his sister on Sunday morning of his
serious Illness. When he reached the
house he found that his father was
dead. He looked at the Cobalt and
was certain there was no poison LABEL
on it. He knew his father wanted
Crab Orchard salts and was eel tain
bIhb was NhuS hO iShtb iDh'
Mr.. Deyine corroborated the fact of
the sister coming to the house and
said that her father was very sick, and
that she went there at once.
Fied. Moore was recalled and the
OF Ferris james Belt was
heard, after which the room was clear
I'D OF all except the jurors and report-
ers. After discussion lasting almost
m hour the following verdict was rem
lered:
"Resolved. That John Devine camel
to his death from acute inflammation
of the stomach, caused by dose OF
Cobalt, known as fly stone, taken in
for crab orchard salt. The
jury would recommend the passage
Of a law by the Legislature. prohibit
ing the sale OF any kind OF poison, ex
cept by graduate oil pharmacy, and
not then, without making proper in
quiries as to the purpose for which II
is intended"
A resolution was also adopted ask.
ing tile Levy Court to provide BETTER
aeeofn1n odations for holding iuquests.