CASES OF POISONING

Evening Star, Issue 19759, 9 January 1928, Page 6

CASES OF POISONING

POSITION OF THE POLICE The inquest on the body of Georgina Waters, an unmarried woman of thirtyfive years of age, who was found dead in the lupins at St. Kilda on Thursday afternoon after having been missing for two days, was resumed this morning before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M. (sitting as coroner). Dr Geoffrey Barnett said ho had made a post mortem examination by instruction of the coroner. He found the body to be well nourished. Death appeared to have occurred about fortyeight hours before his examination, which he made on Friday afternoon. There were external face scars of skin eruption, and there were small scars which had been caused by operation. On the neck and chest were marks of recent corrosive burns, evidently made a very short time before death, and due to some fluid agent such as strong caustic soda or mineral acid. There were no marks of violence on the body. The organs showed no abnormality, except that the gullet was covered with an inflammatory membrane showing that the delicate lining had been destroyed by some liquid agent swallowed shortly before death. There was no internal evidence of any violence or assault. The contents of the stomach were retained for analysis if necessary. His conclusion was that death resulted from the swallowing of some acid or other corrosive liquid, the exact nature of which could not be determined without analysis. In reply to the coroner the doctor said that a strong solution of caustic soda would have been sufficient to have caused death. Detective Farquharson, who represented the police, also asked if the doctor could say what was the nature of the acid or liquid, He said the coroner would appreciate his question, because it was the duty of the to endeavor to find, in cases of poisoning, where the poison was obtained. The Coroner, who said he understood the position of the police, stated that, in view of the fact that the history of the case showed depression and in view of the fact that there was no evidence of any struggle, he thought there could bo no doubt the liquid was self-admin-istered. He did not see any object in ordering an analysis. He would formally adjourn the matter, however, if the police liked to make any further inquiries. Detective Farquharson said he could only report the matter to his seniors. The Coroner adjourned the inquest till 9.30 on Friday morning. He added that he had no reasonable doubt of what had occurred, but ho would give the police an opportunity, if they desired it, of making further inquiries. The Coroner also remarked that as the doctor made a post mortem by his instructions it was not necessary for the doctor to report to the police till after he had made his report to the coroner.