SUICIDE BY POISONING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 51, 29 February 1904, Page 4

SUICIDE BY POISONING.

A PECULIAR CASE.

At midday on Saturday the body of Duncan Mullens, who was reported as missing on Wednesday last, was found floating near the Ponsonby Wharf. The police took charge of the body, and informed the Coroner. The na-tural presumption was that death was due to drowning, but as the medical man (Dr. Neil) found no foam about the lips the Coroner authorised a post-mortem examination. This showed no signs of death from drowning, but revealed some green liquid in the stomach, which suggested chlorodyne. Three bottles of that drug were found on the deceased, two full and one empty, and the doctor deduced that the man had been poisoned by chlorodyne. and. was subsequently immersed in'the water.

Lavinsrton Raymond Roope, the stepeon of deceased, said he had resided with deceased in Manukau-road, Parnell. He last saw deceased alive on Wednesday afternoon last at his home. He was aware that for some 14 days past deceased had been eccentric in his demeanour, and he knew that deceased had business troubles. He had never heard deceased make any threat to take his life.

The jury returned a verdict that death was due to chlorodyne poisoning, the poison being 9elf-adminUtH!:ed while deceased was mentally derann-ed. The worst feature of the case is that this medicine is not included in those •mentioned under the Poisons Act, so that there is absolutely no check upon its sale.