NO BILL FOUND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21553, 26 July 1933, Page 10

NO BILL FOUND

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE SEQUEL TO SUDDEN DEATH REJECTION BY GRAND JURY The charge of manslaughter against George Alexander Rowson, aged 30, a warehouseman formerly employed by the New Zealand Drug Company, was thrown out hy the grand jury at the opening of the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court yesterday, 'ihe charge arose from the death from strychnine poisoning of Mr. Charles Boddy, aged 53, after he had taken a drug. In his charge lo the grand jury, Mr. Justice Herdmnn referred to the case as a curious one. A man (deceased) had arranged with the Drug Company to be supplied with slippery elm bark, but unfortunately he was supplied instead with nux vomica, which was some iorin of strychnine. The man took some of it with the result that ho died, and the .allegation was that Rowson had been guilty of negligence in supplying this harmful drug. Manslaughter was, of course, serious, but there were all sorts of degrees of manslaughter. The punishment might be quite light, but that did not concern tlie grand jury in the least. If tliey thought there was a case then they should leave it to tho common jury to decide whether the death was caused bv this man's neglect. The jury found a no bill.