TRAGEDY OF DRUG-TAKING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13722, 11 April 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

TRAGEDY OF DRUG-TAKING.

.«. The tragic death of the Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Kate Shelley Meade, wife of Cap- "* tain E. B. Meade, and daughter of Viscount Selby, owing to an overdose of the drug trioital, was investigated by .the : ; Brighton coroner. • Mrs. Meade engaged a room at the Grand Hotel, Brighton. On the Sunday .afternoon the chambermaid informed the manager that she had found Mrs, Meade -, lying in bed apparently fast asleep. . A doctor was summoned, and. it was found that Mrs. Meade was in a comatose ...state, and; some cacheus of trional were -on the table. Her symptoms. indicated w Ethat she had taken some of this drug. Every effort was made to restore her to consciousness, but she died on the Wednesday following without having recovered, consciousness. , ■■'■■•- Captain Meade said his wife was 30 years of age. She came _to Brighton for a • few days' change pending arrangements he was making : for taking a house in the country. For years she had been in the habit of Staking drugs to induce sleep. So far is he : knew she had no trouble or anxiety of any sort. , The. coroner remarked that people taking dings no doubt increased the dose as time- vent on. and an overdose ultimately . proved fatal. A verdict .£ death Irons misadventure, was returned*