DEATH IN CITY FLAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22226, 28 September 1935, Page 16

DEATH IN CITY FLAT

MARRIED MAN'S ACT COMMENT BY CORONER NEED TO PRESERVE EXHIBITS The need for care in preserving exhibits for fingerprints in certain eases was emphasised by Mr. Wvvern Wilson, S. M.. eoroner, at an inquest yesterday concerning the death of George Polioek, nged 49, who was found dead in his city flat on the morning of August 20. The coroner stressed the desirability of an exact primary examination by the (wiliee. Evidence was given that traces of poison were found in the body, following an examination by Kenneth Mnssey Grifiin, Government analyst nt Auckland. Nellie Pollock, widow of deceased, said she married her husband, who was managing-secretary of Pukemiro Collieries, Limited, in March. 1929. Ho was not in any financial difficulty, but he had been in very poor health for some time. She last saw him alive about 9 p.m. on August 19, when she left the flat -to stay with her mother. Witness said her husband had complained that she had invited too many peopie to attend a party, and one person her husband "had a set. on," Ifor

a reason she did not know, had been invited. Witness snid there was not

really a quarrel, but "just a few words." Her husband had threatened on several occasions during the past two years to take his life, saying he was ill. Witness returned to the flat on the morning of August 20, and then saw her husband in a chair.

Doctor's Evidence Dr. C. E. A. Coldicutt said lie was summoned to the tint about 9.50 a.m. on August 20, and he found deceased, who was in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and who had obviously been dead for several hours, in a reclining position in an armchair in the sitting room. Witness saw a cork on the floor, and on the seat of the armchair there was an ounce bottle containing 20 drops of clear fluid, which witness could not recogniise. Witness kept the bottlo in his hand until he handed it to a constable. The coroner commented that in such cases it was a pity thai such an exhibit as the bottle should be handled. He made the comment, because it was a matter of great importance, and great care should be taken in similar circumstances not to handl? exhibits which might be extremely valuable. A bottle •was an excellent thing to retain the impress of the fingers. Constable Solly said he obtained possession of the bottle from, the doctor. He found a matchbox containing four .32 calibre revolver bullets, and also an unloaded revolver, wrapped up, which had not been used for a long time. He could not say when the revolver and the bottle were examined for fingerprints.

Coroner's Verdict The coroner, after being informed by Sergeant Jones that the articles were subsequently examined, said no fingerprints were then, of course, found. It seemed to him that the primary examination in the case was not conducted in a proper way, although hedid not suppose that any difference was made in this particular case. But a man had been found dead in a flat, with a revolver and a bottle beside him, and a careful examination should have been made by the police. The coroner also said it had not been proposed to call some witnesses who could give corroborative evidence. Although it was probably a simple case, the police mind must be directed to the manner in which an inquest should be conducted. Martha Crowther, mother of Mrs. Pollock, described answering a telephone call from her daughter on the evening of August 19. On reaching the flat she informed deceased that he was not bein>z fair to her daughter, who left the flat with witness. " Thir, is rather a sad story.' commented the coroner, who said Mrs. PolJock had left the flat with her. mother after a quarrel with her husband. Lieceased had been in bad health, toe coroner returned a verdict of suicide by poisoning.