DRUG FATALITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1925, Page 3

DRUG FATALITY

CORONER CRITICISES CHEMISTS. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 25. As a sequel to the death of Thomas Bißcliffe, on April 8, in the Waitemata Hotel, his companion, George Edward Barker aged 21, appeared at the Police Court to-day, charged with manslaughter. 'The medical evidence was to the effect that death was caused by an overdose of a narcotic drug, accelerated by heart diseasein a statement to the police, the accused denied injecting the drug into the deceased. He said that he obtained the drugs, found in his possession from different chemists in Auckland on a prescription obtained in New South Wales. In January in 1922 he was committed to Rotoroa Island for taking drugs. He escaped later, only to be returned to complete his term. On his release, he and the deceased had frequently used the drug together. Deceased had asked him for the drug. He gave it to deceased. When he found Biltcliffe was cold, and appeared to be dead, he informed the police. Mr Poynton S.M., acting as coroner, returned a verdict of death from an overdose of heroin, taken to induce sleep, and he committed accused for trial. The Coroner commented on the fact that the accused, a boy of 21, and a drug addict, could go into a. chemist’s shop in Auckland, produce a subscription issued months before, and thousands of miles away, and purchase drugs sufficient to kill four men. The prescription bore the stamps of several Auckland chemists. This matter should be reported to the Commissioner of Police.