NOT POISONING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 10

NOT POISONING.

RETIRED CHEMIST'S DEATH. "STATEMENT AT INQUEST. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this duv. Ihe words "poisoning is suspected" appearing in a Press Association report of the death of Mr. Alexander Robert McDowell. a retired Christchureh chemist, were the subject of an emphatic protest at the inquest yesterday. Mr. McDowell was found unconscious in Hagley Park on June 28, and was taken to a public hospital, where he died. It was stated at the inquest that the suggestion of poisoning had caused great distress to the relatives. * Mr. A. E. Kincaid, a brother-in-law, addressing tiie coroner, Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., said: "I want to make an emphatic protest against such an article appearing in the papers throughout New Zealand. The report has caused very great distress indeed to all members of the family. He was well-known throughout New Zealand, and it has caused quite a lot of talk." Mr. Kincaid asked whether the coroner could order a correction of the report. "I have no standing in that matter," Mr. Levvey said, "but publicity for your statement will operate as a withdrawal." After hearing the evidence of Dr. A. B. Pearson,. pathologist at* the Christchurch Public Hospital, Mr. Levvev returned a verdict that Mr. McDowell died from natural causes, due to a coma associated with cardio-renal disease and accelerated by exposure.