POISONED BY LAUDANUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13874, 7 October 1908, Page 7

POISONED BY LAUDANUM.

~;; ; A PFCULIAR CASE. A mas named George Augustus Beaton died in the "Avenue" boardinghouse, off Karangahape Road, yesterday afternoon, in circumstances pointing to suicide. ]'■ The deceased had "been residing with . his wife and family in Russell-street, Par- ' nell, but for some reason, as yet unex- ' plained, lie engaged a room in the board- ■ inghouse mentioned, on Monday, and slept : there for the night. On going into his ..* ' room at eight o'clock yesterday morning, . ; a servant found him lying fully dressed on ; : the bed, but did not take more than pass- ';' - ing notice, and went out again. Between 12 and one o'clock it was found that'he ■ . ': was still lying, on his bed, in a comatose condition. " Dr. Owen was sent for, and, .suspecting that the patient -was suffering from laudanum poisoning, treated him for ' it, but without avail, the man expiring two hours later. - ' ; Subsequent inquiries made by the police I '■■':• show that on Monday afternoon the de- "; " ceased purchased a bottle of laudanum at the Auckland Friendly Societies' dispensary in • Karangahape Road. ." i ' Deceased was connected with the Ex- | change and Auctkn Mart Company, carrying on business in High-street. ; | , '' An inquest, will be held to-day.