DEATH OF DOCTOR

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1933, Page 1

DEATH OF DOCTOR

NARCOTICS THE CAUSE FORMERLY IN SYDNEY LONDON August 10. When the name of Dr Oscar William Bercival, 38, formerly of Sydney, was called in tine Northfleet (Kent) Police Court, the police superintendent announced that lie was dead.

The doctor had been charged with driving a motor-car on Monday while under tile influence of drink. He was found dying last night. ■ At the inquest the coroner said Dr Percival had returned home from his surgery. He went early to bed on the verandah, where he slept in the hot weather. His wife during the night, heard noises and went to her husband, who was unconscious and died an hour and a-half later.

The widow gave evidence that Dr Percival never took drugs to induce sleep and did not tell her he had been involved in an accident. If he had troubles lie did not confide in her. He had been drinking heavily on and off and seemed dazed on Tuesday night.

Dr Pinching stated that, after a post-mortem examination, he was unable to determine the cause of death. He believed it to be due to failure of respiration, which was a condition of narcotic poisoning.

Dr Hartley, who was Dr Percival’s partner for eight years gave evidence that he found Dr Percival suffering from symptons of narcotic poisoning. A constable said he had found Dr Percival lying across th.e steering wheel of a badly damaged car on the wrong side of the road. The verdict was that death was due to narcotics, there being no evidence to I show whether deceased intended to commit suicide. Dr Percival had been assistant police surgeon at Gravesend. He leaves two children.