CASE OF POISONING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21949, 5 November 1934, Page 11

CASE OF POISONING

YOUNG GIRL'S SUICIDE COMMENT BY CORONER The inquest concerning the death of Lottie Spittlchouse, single, aged 18, who was found lying under a hedge in Hamilton Road, Heme Bay, on October 9, and who died in the Auckland Hospital several hours later from the effects of poisoning, was concluded before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., coroner, on Saturday. Deceased had lived in Pitt Street, City, for some days before her death, her parents living in Scott Street, Ponsonhy. Evidence was given by Dr. J. K. Ritchie, a house surgeon at the Auckland Hospital, that deceased was in a very shocked state upon admission, and her condition might have been caused by the action of nitric acid. The action was not recent, but the condition was not inconsistent with acid having been taken an hour before. In returning a verdict of suicide by nitric acid poisoning while deceased was in a state of mental aberration, the coroner said it was a particularly regrettable case. Jt seemed that the girl might.hp alive had the advice of the family doctor been followed. There was no doubt of suicide. The girl had said she had taken nitric acid, and a postmortem examination had disclosed considerable corrosion. Deceased must have taken a considerable quantity, and she must have been lying for a long time where she was found