SUPPOSED CASE OF SUICIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9152, 6 September 1888, Page 5

SUPPOSED CASE OF SUICIDE.

■ ♦ A middle-aged man, named James Grove, recently employed as caretaker of Plumpton Park coursing grounds, Papatoetoe, died suddenly at about nine o'clock yesterday morning, at the Raglan Hotel, Great South Road, under circumstances which lead to the belief that he took poison. The man had been drinking heavily of late, and about a week ago was discharged by the Coursing Club in consequence. He went to bed about two o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, in the Raglan Hotel, and was supposed to have remained there until six o'clock the following morning, when he asked for and got a glass of beer. At nine o'clock he was found in bed alive, but quite rigid, and apparently in intense pain, and soon afterwards expired. Constable Walker, of Oiahuhu, was informed of the facts, and at once proceeded to make enquiries. He searched the clothing of the deceased and the room, and found a small phial, which evidently contained strychnine, and it is supposed that he took this poison. Poisons were used at Plumpton Park for the destruction of hawks and vermin, and the probability is that Grove took some away with him when he left. An inquest is to be held to-day. A post mortem examination will also take place, so as to ascertain whether the man had really take poison, or whether he died from some other causes, but the convulsions which occurred before death are those indicative, of poisoning by strychnine.