A FATAL MISTAKE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18180, 17 September 1924, Page 6

A FATAL MISTAKE.

MAN DRINKS TOISON. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, before the Coroner, Mr H. Y. Widdowson, an inquest was held into the circumstances of the death of Alfred John Walker. Deceased died at tho Christchurch Hospital on Monday morning from the effects of having swallowed poison. Joseph Bound, licensee of the Heathcote Hotel, said ho had identified the body as that of Alfred John Walker, who was 41 years of age. Witness had Tinown deceased for about four years. Deceased was not drinking at all, as he was to have undergone an operation for a bad leg. He was staying at witness's hotel. Deceased had a wife in Timaru. On September 9th deceased went for a walk to tho Heathcote bowling green. At about 4 p.m. witness heard that Walker had swallowed poison and he was brought to the hotel. An ambulance then took deceased to the Hospital. Dr. C. H. Gould said that deceased, when admitted to the Hospital, appeared to be suffering from the effects of corrosive poison, and was accordingly treated. His condition was grave from the beginning. Later, gangrene set in, and he died at 9.30 on Monday morning. In witness's opinion death wa3 due to toxic absorption from destruction of the tissues lining tho gullet and the stomach, caused by the taking of poison. The poison contained perchloride of mercury and hydrochloric acid. One gulp of the poison would be quite enough to cause death. He had taken a signed statement from deceased, in which the latter did not blame any of his mates for the occurrence.

Dr. F. G. Ward, house surgeon at the Christchureh Hospital, also gave evidence. John Robert Morgan, of Heathcota, said that deceased was perfectly sober at the time of the occurrence, "Witness did not know any of the ingredients of the poison, Witness ordered it from a chemist, William Wataon, of Heatleoto, said he -went to the Heathcoto bowling green with Morgan and a man named Newey eanie down later, He gave corroborative evidenee of the oeouxrenee, stating that Morgan told deceased wliat \yaa in the bottle before ho touched it, Walter Newey ; eyele mechanic, ef Heatheote, Detective Connolly, and Constable Bosworthj of Woolatohj also gave evidence, The Coroner said as there was no evidence as to what the bottle actually contained, the inquest would be adjourned until ts-day- t in order to obtain the evidence of Mi Whit3-j?3rsons. chemist* cf J-ffttoSon.