VERDICT OF SUICIDE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 297, 28 September 1935, Page 3

VERDICT OF SUICIDE

AUCKLAND MAN’S DEATH.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 27

A verdict of suicide by poisoning was returned by the Coroner (Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M.) at the inquest into the death of George Pollock, whose body was found in the sitting-room of his flat on the morning of August 20. Alongside the body, which was reclining in a chair, was found a small bottle, while on the iioor were a. small brown paper parcel and a matcnbox. The evidence wiven showed that Pollock, who was secretary of Pukemiro Collieries, had complained of being a sick man, and several times dining the last two years had threatened to take his life. On the night oi August 19 he had had a few words with his wife. After these words she left the flat that night, and went to stay at her mother’s. She returned the next morning, when her husband was found dead in the chair. In the match-box were four .32 cartridges, and in the brown paper parcel a revolver, which had not been used for some time. The bottle found on the chair contained about 20 drops of a colourless liquid which, when examined by the Government Analyst, was found to contain traces of poison. At the postmortem the analyst also found traces of poison in the stomach contents. The Coroner commented on the face that an examination had not lieen made as soon as possible for fingerprints on the bottle.