DEATH FROM POISON.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 107, 2 April 1930, Page 7

DEATH FROM POISON.

■ TAKEN DURING ARREST. R FORMAL VERDICT RETURNED. w An inquest was held at Palmerston KNnrth this morning into the circumRtances associated with the death of ■Captain Henry Cooper, aged 55, a Rreterinary practitioner, of Cook ■Jtreet, who swallowed the contents of K small bottle on March 5 when he Bras being removed by a constable ■from the residence of his wife, from Krhom he was legally separated. The ■Coroner was Mr J. L. Stout, S-M. ■> Dr. F. Ward, medical superintendent of the Palmerston North HosB>ital, stated that deceased was adBiitted to the institution at 9.25 p.m. K.m. on March 5 in a moribund condition. It was stated that he had ■alien the contents of a small labelled Hottle. He was quite unconscious and pulse was not perceptible. Treatwas given but breathing ceased, Hnd artificial respiration was unsuccessfully applied. Deceased succumbed at 9.50 p.m. Later a postexamination was performed the contents of the intestines forwarded to the Government at Wellington. The latter re■orted that he had found poison, had been the cause of death. to the Coroner, Dr. Ward ho could not tell whether there any suggestion that deceased had drinking. of identification was given ■r Constable Compton. Evans stated that at 9 on March 5 last, in response to telephone message, he had gone to residence of deceased’s wife. There H had seen deceased, who was separarcßjd from his wife. He was in a halfcondition on the ground at VlHp side of the house. Witness proto remove him and informed Hn that he was going fo be arrested. BB|ceased seemed very perturbed. His yflfi was dispatched to summon a taxi. standing at the gate, deceased Hfade several attempts to escape from ■Fitness, who took no notice, it being he usual demeanour of a drunken nan. Witness had his hand on deleased’e shoulder. and as the taxi rrived he switched on his torch. Turnng round, he saw deceased with a mall bottle to his mouth. Witness matched it away and it fell to the footpath. Deceased was removed to the hospital, breathing heavily and showing signs of collapse. He had shown no previous intention that he had contemplated any such action. He subsequently succumbed. The Coroner Tetumed a formal verdict that deceased died from the effects of poison self-administered while he was m a state of intoxication.