DEATH OF DRUG ADDICT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 84, 9 April 1925, Page 8

DEATH OF DRUG ADDICT.

AFTER AN INJECTION.

TRAGEDY IN AN HOTEL.

ANOTHER MAN ARRESTED. In a room in the Waitemata Hotel, last evening, was enacted a tragedy, in which an overdose of sleep-giving fluid, administered by a hypodermic syringe, resulted in the death of a man uamed Thomas Bileliff, aged 50. Bilcliff was a drug addict, who, like all those who seek solace in drugs, craved for the "dope" at all times. Yesterday afternoon, deceased was in his ro6m at the Waitemata Hotel, when a friend named George Barker, aged 21, called on him. Barker was also known tc be a drug addict, and both men had been on Roto-Roa Island.

No sooner had Barker entered his room than Bilcliff asked: "Have you any dope?" Barker had a bottle and a syringe, and, in response to Bilcliff's request, he gave deceased an injection in the arm. But Bilcliff craved for more, and took the bottle and syringeHe gave himself a second injection and, almost immediately, fell sound asleep. He never woke.

Barker left the hotel, and, returning at 5.30 p.m., he found Bilcliff still sleeping. Hβ undressed deceased and put him to bed, and read for about an hour. Then he tried to rouse Bilcliff, but his efforts were useless. Becoming frightened, he called the police.

Detectives Knight and Robertson arrived and saw that the man was dead. Dr. Murray was called, and pronounced life extinct. Barker Mas then detained, and taken to the police station, and, on being searched, he was found to havn several bottles of various drugs and a number of syringes, also a prescription issued at Newcastle, which had been made up at different chemists' shops. An inquest into the death of Bilcliff was opened before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., to-day, and adjourned.

George Edward Barker was brought before the magistrate at the Police Court this morning and charged with being an idle and disorderly person, with no visible moans of support. Accused looked very haggard. Hβ was remanded until April 17.