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CORONER'S INQUEST.
Melancholy death of the lady of JOHN
BELL, Esq. J. P., and the two children of an
overseer residing with the family supposed by
eating of a fish of the species called Toad Fish.
On Friday, one of the most respectable
Juries that probably ever assembled upon any
similar occasion met at the country residence
of Captain Bell, Weston Lodge, New-town
to investigate into the causes that had pro-
duced most fatal consequences to no less than
three individuals of this highly respectable
family. The Coroner, Joseph Hone, Esq.
assisted by a Jury consisting of J.T. Gelli-
brand, Esq , Foreman ; W. Bunster, Charles
M'Lachlan, W. Fletcher, J. Briggs, J. Swan,
R. O'Ferrall, W. M. Orr, J. S. Browne, W.
Robertson, H. J. Emmett, H. J. Seagrim, and
J. Walker, Esqrs. and others - in all fourteen
persons attended about 7 o'clock in the evening.
The first point to which the attention of the
Coroner and Jury was directed being to view
the bodies of the three individuals who had so
recently been deprived of existence, almost as
it were instantaneously, and although only
about 18 or 20 hours had elapsed since these
unfortunate persons had been in the full pos-
session of health and vigour, such was the
subtility of the infections matter, that already
had decomposition taken place to a very great
extent. The Jury, proceeded to the garret or
loft in which the men servants slept, and heard
the evidence of one man who was in bed, and
stated himself to be very ill — and then of
another servant who was evidently suffering
under the effects of some such calamity as that
which had ended so fatally. After this course
had been adopted to the extent that appeared
necessary, the Coroner and Jury occupied one
of the lower rooms, and proceeded with the en-
quiry, by going into the evidence of other parts
of the establishment. As the Inquest has not
yet terminated, it would be unwise in us to give
more than the outline of the proceeding, which
we do in order to calm as far as we can the
intense anxiety pervading the public mind re-
lative to this sad catastrophe. During the
sitting, which continued the whole night and
until nearly 7 o'clock the next morning, it ap-
peared expedient to take a course that would
allow an adjournment of the investigation to a
future day, and that would admit in the interim
of a burial warrant being issued. This was ef-
fected after the examination of a Surgeon, who
was enabled to state, that having dissected
one of the bodies, he felt competent so to
unite his observation with any evidence that
might be obtained hereafter, as to come to
a satisfactory conclusion of the causes that had
terminated so fatally ; this course was rendered
almost imperative by the state of rapid decay
that was apparent in each case, rendering it im-
prudent to expose them for many hours longer,
except with a chance of infection to the survi-
vivors of this unfortunate family ; at 7 o'clock
on Saturday morning, the Coroner and Jury
being in a state of actual exhaustion, an ad-
journment took place to 10 o'clock on Monday,
and it was understood that their labours were
to be resumed at the Waterloo Tavern, Davey-
st., the Coroner having before the adjournment
given a warrant for the interment of the bodies.
In the course of the investigation (chiefly
arising from the manner in which some of the
witnesses gave their testimony) the Coroner
deemed it prudent to place three of the servants
in separate custody, so that no communication
should take place between them, previous to
the further progress of the enquiry. We can
not learn that any suspicion actually attaches
to the persons placed under restraint ; but it
certainly was necessary to satisfy the public
mind, and out of regard to the feelings of the
distressed and highly respectable gentleman who
has experienced so dreadful a calamity, to let
no point pass notice that could in any way tend
to remove what, next to the sad misfortune
itself, must of necessity be most painful, —we
mean, even a symptom of there being any thing
like mystery in the conduct of those who were
employed on the premises at the time of this
dreadful event. We shall endeavour to give a
full report of the Inquest, in our next publication.
As it is a property of animal poisons, not to
admit of a test by chemical operation, like those
derived from mineral substances —it has been
thought prudent to make an experiment at the
Colonial Hospital, by giving a portion of the
Toad Fish to some small carnivorous animal, so
that it may be more correctly ascertained what
effect this noxious food has upon being received
into the stomach.
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