SUICIDE AT. WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11867, 20 January 1902, Page 5

SUICIDE AT. WELLINGTON.

DOCTOR DID NOT ATTEND WHEN SUMMONED.

[by TELEGRAPH. association.] • Wellington, Saturday. V An inquest was held to-day on the body of George Flanagin, labourer, who died at midnight on Thursday from the effects of poison self-administered.

The widow ■ of deceased stated that he had been drinking for some time, and had not eaten meat for a fortnight before death. He had apparently mixed some arsenic in a bottle he always, kept in the bedroom, and drunk _ the ■ contents. This was about half-past eight a.m. on Thursday. Shortly after he commenced to vomit. She gave him some .-soda and water' as an emetic, _ and barley i water and , milk. He continued to vomit, so she went to Dr. Teare. He refused to attend the man, and advised further supplies of barley water. Her husband continued in a bad state, finally dying in her arms. The police were summoned. They called Dr. Teare, and lie then came quickly. Dr. Teare deposed that Mrs. Flanagin came to him on Thursday afternoon. Sho stated that her, husband had taken rat poison, and described her treatment. Witness replied that she had acted judiciously. Witness, who was busy at the time, thought that she had done all that was necessary, and that lie could not do any more if he went. . If he had been called in at first he would have used the stomach-pump, but after repeated vomiting as described by Mrs. Flanagin, there would have been no object in using the pump, the ppst-morten showed" the presence of arsenic in the stomach, which had caused inflammation and' hemorrhage. The Coroner stated that lie had felt sorry that Dr. Teare had not come when first called. The doctor had met this by stating that deceased had been rightly treated by his wife, and that she had done all that could be done. v The foreman and the , other • members of the jury thought it a pity Dr. Teare did not come when he -was' asked to do; so by ' Mrs. Flanagin, and when she stated that her husband was poisoned.' '■*../> v • „ The jury returned a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane, , and expressing their regret by a rider that Dr. Teare had not attended deceased when, summoned..