SUICIDE AT NORTHCOTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 260, 9 November 1897, Page 5

SUICIDE AT NORTHCOTE.

POISONED WITH "ROUGH ON

RATS."

.A sad affair was discovered at Northcote last evening in the death of Mr John W. Grant, aged 30 years, who was employed as a clerk to Messrs Macklow Eros., "Mechanics' Bay. Mr Grant was a married -man with a comfortable home. A week 'ago his wife went on a visit to her mother at Hawera, and deceased has been taking his meals at the Northcote Hotel, which is opposite his own residence. He had not been to work later than 4th inst., and 'had not been seen after he had his breakfast at the hotel last Sunday morning. Yesterday evening Mr Smith, a neighbour, broke into Mr Grant's house in order to see if anything was wrong. He found Mr Grant undressed on a sofa. He was, however, still conscious. He told Mr Smith, in the presence of another neighk>iir, Mr Frederick Souster, that he had taken Rough on Rats. Near at hand was a tumbler, which contained what appeared to be some of that compound. Emetics were at once administered, and a telephone message was sent to the Auckland police for a medical man. Sergeant. Kelly sent over Dr. Walker, who arrived at MiGrant's house at a quarter to seven o'clock. The patient was then unconscious, and notwithstanding all the efforts made by the doctor he fell into a state of collapse and died shortly afterwards. The matter was reported to the coroner, Dr. Philson, who decided to hold an inquest at ten o'clock to-morrow morning.