CHEMIST'S DEATH.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20587, 1 July 1932, Page 5

CHEMIST'S DEATH.

OVERDOSE OF DRUG. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. That death was duo to heart failure following poisoning caused by an overdose of a drug used to induce sleep, was the verdict returned by Mr H. A. Young, S.M., at tho inquest into tho death of Harold Roy Johnson, aged 38, tho rcpreqontatve of an English firm of manufacturing, chemists, who died in tho Christchurch Public Hospital on Juno 7th. Johnson was married, with one child, and ho lived at New Brighton. Sergeant A. Leckie represented the Police and Johnson's family was represented by counsel. Doctor's Evidence, Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at tho Christchurch Public Hospital, stated that on June 9th lie made a post mortem examination of tho body. In his opinion the cause of death was heart failure, following poisoning from a drtig, commonly used to induce sleep. The doctor also produced tho report of tho Government Analyst, which stated that a small quantity of tho drug had been found in Johnson's body. Witness explained that tho drug was a hard poison to detect, and that the post mortem had shown np characteristic signs of its being present. Had Been 111, The widow, Margaret Alice Johnson, of 67 Keppel street, New Brighton, stated that lier husband had represented tho firm of C. J. Hewlett and Sons, Ltd., English manufacturing chemists. . He was a discharged soldier, and since the end of the war had had two abdominal operations. During the week prior to his death ho had not boon well. He was up all day on Sunday, but was in bed on Monday, June 6th, complaining of not being well. On Tuesday ho had stayed in bed, but at about 11 a.m. he had risen while she was out of the room. He was unable to eat his lunch, saying that all he wanted to do was to sleep. Ho was unconscious at 2 p:m. and a doctor was called immediately. At about 6 p.m. Johnson was taken to the Christchurcn Public Hospital. Witness was not aware that her husband had been taking drugs, and he had said nothing about committing suicide. She found no trace of any drug For some time her husband had been complaining of not sleeping. He carried no sample of drugs. Sergeant A. Leckie stated that Johnson had not had access to his goods in bond since April. Dr. Paul Hamilton Wood, r house surgeon at the Christchurch Public Hospital, stated that Johnson was unconscious when admitted to tho Hospital on June 7th. He died the samp evening. Ho seemed to be suffering from the effects of poisoning, having some of the characteristics of morphine. He was treated accnrdinsjlv. Vint the treatment would liavo been much the same 111 the case of tho drug which he had apparently used. j The Verdict. The verdict was that Johnson's' death was due to heart-failure, following poisoning, caused by an overdose of the drug, self-administered. Tho evidence did not disclose whether the drug was administered accidentally. ============= !