“DIDN’T LIKE HIM”

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 29, 29 October 1928, Page 10

“DIDN’T LIKE HIM”

MENTAL HOSPITAL INMATE POISONED FORMALIN ADMINISTERED BY FELLOW-PATIENT Dominion Special Service. Nelson, October 27. A tragic accurrence took place at the Nelson Menetal Hospital, resulting in the death of a young boy inmate, following on being given a drink of formalin by a fellow boy patient aged 13. The inquiry into the circumstances was concluded to-day before the Coroner, Mr. T. E. Maunsell. Dr. H. E. Jeffreys, medical superintendent, said that he and Dr. Sadlier performed a most-mortem examination of deceased and found unmistakable evidence of formalin poisoning. The cause of death was shock from the effects of the formalin poisoning. Witness said that he interviewed the boy responsible, who gave as the reason for his actions that he did not like the deceased as he was no good and that he wanted to kill him. Witness said that he did not think that the boy fully understood the nature of the offence. Recalled later, the same witness said that the boy responsible was very untruthful. He'-was an epileptic imbecile, and had very little moral sense of right and wrong.

Evidence dealing with his actions in giving the deceased was given in disjointed sentences by the boy responsible. He said he knew that the contents of the bottle were poisonous and that the stuff would kill deceased. He gave it to deceased because he did not like him. Further evidence was given by two nurses, who possessed keys to the basin room, where the poison was kept, and the boy and Dr. Jeffreys were also recalled. The facts disclosed were that the boy took the key from a table at the bedside of one of the nurses when he brought up a jug of water to her in the morning. He tip-toed across the floor to get the key and the nurses did not see him. A third nurse, who is in charge of the boys’ ward, explained that the bottle of formalin was in the basin room because it was too big to go into the locked medicine cupboard. The door of the basin room was always kept locked. The Coroner’s verdict was that deceased died from shock caused through poisoning by drinking formalin which was administered to him by a mental patient with intent to kill. The said mental patient was not responsible for his actions by reason of insanity. The fact that he was able to gain access to the formalin was due to exceptional circumstances and not to the negligence of any person.