Prisoner Died Of Alcohol Poisoning

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31907, 7 February 1969, Page 20

Prisoner Died Of Alcohol Poisoning

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 6. A man found dead in the cell block of the Wellington police station on November 29 died of acute alcoholic poisoning, the Wellington Coroner (Mr J. Meltzer) found at an inquest today.

The man was Joseph Corrie Thomson, aged 55, a railway worker.

Senior-Sergeant A. J. McLachlan said in evidence that at 8.15 p.m. on November 29 he was informed that an unknown drunk had been placed in a cell at the Wellington Police Station. At 8.30 p.m. Sergeant McLachlan made a routine visit to the cells and saw the man lying on his right side, breathing heavily and snoring. At 9.50 p.m. the sergeant was called to the cell. An ambulance officer was called but failed to revive the prisoner.

Doctor E. F. Sang said he examined the body about 15 minutes after death and found the only abnormality to be a haematone swelling on the left side of the scalp, which could have been caused by a knock or a fall. Mr Thomson was found at 6.35 p.m. on the night of his death lying on the footpath in Molesworth Street, Constable R. P.’ Worthington said. He called an ambulance. Mr Thomson was taken to hospital, but 40 minutes later was cleared as being drunk only and was taken to the police station and arrested.

The pathologist who performed the post-mortem examination, Dr J. O. Mercer, said that the bruise on the back of Mr Thomson’s head was probably caused by a heavy fall and was not responsible for his death. “In my opinion the cause of death was acute alcoholic poisoning,” said Dr Mercer. The Coroner said: “I am satisfied nothing improper took place in the police cell. I find that Mr Thomson died in the police cell of acute alcoholic poisoning.”