POISONED BY GAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19799, 21 November 1927, Page 8

POISONED BY GAS.

GREY LYNN SENSATION. AGED COUPLE UNCONSCIOUS. bedroom filled with fumes. WOMAN IN CRITICAL CONDITION. Escaping gas in the bedroom which they occupied for tho first time at b, Monmouth Street, Grey Lynn, yesterday morning, overpowered and almost poisoned Mr. James Lawson Morrison, aged 73, and his wife, Mrs. Janet Morrison, aged 74, who were 'admitted to the Auckland. Hospital about noon -in a serious and unconscious condition. Unusual circumstances surround the strange accident. A brother-in-law of the old couple, Mr. David Davidson, shifted his residence from 33, Fleet Street, Mount Eden, to 6, Monmouth Street, Grey Lynn, on Saturday afternoon, and was assisted in the operation by Mr. and Mrs. Morrison, whose address is 26, Fourth Avenue, Kingsland. They were engaged, with others, until about two o'clock yesterday morning in arranging tho furniture. They then accepted an invitation to spend" the night at the place. By the light of a candle tfiey retired ,in a small spare bedroom, the window of which was shut. A current of fresh air passed into the room through a ven tilator in the ceiling. In the morning the unusual position of the bodies attracted the attention of Mr. Davidson, who looked into the room. No particular notice, however, was given tho fact until repeated calls to rise were unanswered by the couple. Then Mrs. Davidson, entering the room, discovered Mr. and Mrs. Morrison in a deep slumber from which she could not rouse them, in spite of her vigorous shakings. "I could see that something was wrong," she said afterwards, "because of their heavy breathing and the positions they were in." Mr. Morrison was lying on the bed with his feet on the floor, while his wife's body was stretched across the bed. Evidently they had become aware of their plight in the darkness and had endeavoured to grope their way from the room when they were prevented by the weakening effect of the fumes. .

Medical attention was summoned immediately and they were removed from the room by Mr. Davidson, assisted by Mr. James Henderson. On arrival Dr. 0. Fyffe Lamb, of Great North Road, after examination, . pronounced there appeared little hope of recovery, and directed their removal to the Auckland Hospital. Investigation then revealed that gas had been escaping from a gas bracket which controlled two jets. Neither one of these had been turned off, and, as the only means of ventilation was by way of the vent in the ceiling, the combined fumes had been inhaled by the sleepers. Hospital authorities reported early this morning that the condition of Mrs. Morrison was critical and that of Mr. Morrison as fair.