DEATH OF GIRL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21716, 3 February 1934, Page 14

DEATH OF GIRL

COMMENT BY CORONER DRUG EASILY PROCURED "AN EXTRAORDINARY THING" [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] CHEISTCHURCH, Friday A rider drawing the attention of tho authorities to tho ease-with which pills composed of corrosive sublimate can bo procured from chemists was added by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., coroner, to tho verdict which he gavo at an inquest to-day concerning tho death of Ina Adelaide Blake, aged 14, of Belfast. "It is unfortunate that the police were not brought into this caso before the girl's death," said Mr. Mosley. "Had they been brought in when first she .was ill they would no doubt have solved tho question of where this pill came from, and would have been able to sheet homo to somebody tho crime of giving to, or procuring for, this child of 14 years such a dangerous drug." The pathologist's report left no doubt in his mind that tho girl was killed really through her own act in taking tho pill in a certain manner. Felix Grigg, Government analyst, said he had detected traces of mercury. Tho poison was on the market in tho form of pills. A two grain pill taken in a certain way would be dangerous and an eight grain pill almost certainly fatal. Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, said in his opinion death was caused by hemorrhage acute nephritis and acute mercuric poisoning. The hemorrhage and the acute nephritis were the result of the poisoning. Tho Coroner: It seems an extraordinary thing that these pills can be procured quite easily. They are dangerous ? Witness: Undoubtedly. The body showed signs of corrosive poisoning. Detective E. M. Thomas said he had made inquiries among city chemists concerning the sale of tho pills mentioned by previous witnesses. He found the pills were sold by nearly all chemists. They did not come under the regulations and it was not necessary to make any entry in the poison book when they were sold. No chemist had any recollection of selling any such pills for some time prior to the death of Ina Blake. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence. |