James George

W An inquest was held Wednesday by Dr, Youl, the coroner, upon the, body of John Jama George, late greengrocer, of Elgin street, Carlton, who died from the effects of poison taken at his residence on the previous night. It was a very peculiar Case, and the manner in which poisons are sold for some vendors was again raised. The deceased was aged sixty-seven years. He was a member of the water police at the time of the historical Nelson gold robbery when a gang of desperadoes boarded the goldship Nelson in the Bay and plundered her in the fifties "—was engaged in the gold rush at " Old Bendigo," and was present at the Eureka Stockade riots. Evidence was given by Mary Ann George, his widow, to the effect that he had been in good health, but that at half-past 6 on Tuesday evening he was suddenly seized with convulsions, and expired in a few minutes. Prior to this he had gone out temporarily, and one of the children who had been sent to watch him had seen him coming out of a neighbouring chemist's shop. He had not been addicted to drink, and he was not aware he contemplated suicide. Richard William George, son of deceased, said his father called out to him, "Dick, Dick, come here ; I'm dying," As he spoke he went from the shop towards a bedroom, where he died. Witness asked him whether be had taken anything, and he replied "No but witness afterwards found the empty paper produced lying in the gutter in front of the shop. It was marked " Mice or rat poison." He did not find any glass out of which deceased had drank. ...

Weekly Times, 26 April 1890.