DEATH OF DR. PEMBERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 787, 1 April 1887, Page 24

DEATH OF DR. PEMBERTON.

We deeply regret that we hsve to chronicle the death of Dr Pemberton, who died suddenly on uesday evening at his residence, Willii-street. It appears that the deceased gentlemau was out till a late hour on Monday night attending to his professional duties. On his return home he found his wife unwell and sat up with her all night. At 6 o’clock in the morning he felt very sleepy, but, suffering as he was from insomnia, he could get no rest and went down to his surgery and brought back to his bedroom a small bottle of morphia. He put a little on his finger and took it and immediately went off to sleep. Mr 3 Pemberton, however, after looking at her husband, did not like his appearance, and at once sent out for Mr Brittain, chemist, who is deceased’s brother-in-law. Mr Brittain having arrived at the house sent for Drs Collins and Fell, who for five hours endeavored by all means to restore animation, but without avail, for the unfortunate gentleman had calmly expired. Drs Robertson, France, and Hutchinson were also in attendance. Dr Pemberton had long been suffering from insomnia, and was in the habit of taking a mixture prescribed by his brother-in-law, Mr Brittain ; but there being none in the house, he remarked to his wife that he would take a little morphia for the purpose of getting some sleep. Both Drs Collins and Fell say that, though the dose taken was small, it was quite sufficient to be dangerous, considering the weak state in which Dr Pemberton was at the time. The deceased gentleman, who was 43 years of age, had until lately carried on his profession in Africa, but the climate not agreeing with him, he came to New Zealand for his health’s saae. He was brother-in-law to Mr William Lowes, of Masterton, and leaves a wife and a family of six, the eldest son being a tutor in the Wanganui College. Dr Pemberton’s death will be deeply regretted by a large circle of friends, and great sympathy will be felt for his wife and family.

An inquest was held by Dr (Johnston, District Coroner, on Wednesday, in connection with the death of Dr Pemberton on Tuesday last. Mr Henry Brittain, druggist, gave evidence as to the deceased gentleman having suffered from insomnia, and deposed that the bottle from which the deceased had taken the last dose contained morphia. Thedeceased was not in monetary difficulties, having a practice worth £4OO or £SOO a year. Dr Fell gave evidence as to the death of the deceased. Mrs Pemberton’s evidence bore out the particulars of her husband’s decease given in 3'63terday morning’s issue of this journal. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from an overdose of morphia taken to induce sleep.