POISON FOR WINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

POISON FOR WINE.

WEDDING-EVE TRAGEDY. WRONG BOTTLE IN ERROR, It fell to the lot of a young woman, recently to attend the inquest on her brother, a day after she had been-mar-ried. The inquiry concerned the death of Albert Gurney, aged 16, of Blyth, Northumberland, who drank the contents of a bottle of poisonous matter, under the mistaken impression that it was wine bought for his sister's wedding. Mrs. Mary Ann Edwards, the wife of a railway engine cleaner, stated that her brother had drunk five or six bottjes of wine since the beginning of the year. Coroner (to the father): I think it is a pity you did not check him. Father: He liked a drop of wine. Coroner: He was not old enough. Mrs. Edwards, who broke down, while giving evidence, and had to be comforted by her husband, explained that.she saw her brother drinking out of a half-size whisky bottle, into which a poisonous mixture had been poured. " I shouted out for my mother, and ran and knocked it out of his hand," added Mrs. Edwards. "My mother came down.and gave him salt and water, but he collapsed. A" doctor was called, and he was taken to hospital. Ho must have thought he was drinking wine when he got hold of the bottle, because there was a wine .bottla next to it. He took a gulp at the bottle as if he was trying to get a drink-before anyone would see him." Dr. Steele added that the boy in hospital ridiculed the idea of- any criminal intention. ' . ' The doctor added that he had seen tfe« wine, and considered that it would, take about a gallon to make anyone intoxicated, so that the boy could not be accused of being intemperate. The coroner recorded a verdict in ac«, cordance with-the medical evidence.