SUICIDE BY POISONING

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 50

SUICIDE BY POISONING

THE INQUEST. A DOCTOR CENSURED. Ail inquest was held oil Saturday before the District Coroner, Mr James Ashcroft, on the body of George Laurence Flanagin, who died at 36, Broadway terrace, last Thursday. The proceedings were conducted at the late residence of tlie deceased. Mr Thomas Madeley was chosen foreman of tho jury. Louisa Flanagin, widow of deceased, stated that her husband had been drinking since Christmas. When tho worse of drink he never took any food, and for two weeks previous to his death lie had not eaten a meal. About 4 a.m. on the 16th inst. he got up, left the house, and did not return until 8.30 a.in. Witness asked him if he would have a clip of tea and toast, blit he refused, and stated he had had a pint of beer. He then went upstairs, and shortly afterwards came down with the bottle which, he kept on the bed-room table for drinking purposes and a box containing a green powder, which was used to poison rats. W itness noticed green matter on his board; also that he had been vomiting. She immediately took the bottle out of his hand, and threw the box containing the rat poison away.. Deceased then stated: “I’ve done it. I’m sorry.” Witness at once gave him two doses of carbonate of soda in hot. water, and some jaJap, as emetics. Each doso, when vomited, contained green matter. Witness continued giving deceased salt and water and soda and water until 6 p.m. on Thursday, when he appeared brighter, and looked much better. She then gave him beef tea, vhich was partly rejected, and then barley-water and milk. About 4 p.m. witness proceeded to Mr Brien’s, chcnnst, and explained the case to him. He advised lier to consult Dr Mackin, hut that gentleman was ill. She then informed Dr Teare of the case, and lie replied, “I will give you an order for the hospital.” Witness stated her husband was not bad enough to go there, and tho doctor then asked what she wanted him to do. She asked the doctor to come and see him, or give her some medicine for him, but the doctor refused to do either, and told witness to give her husband barley-water and milk, and lie would bear him in mind. \Y it ness returned home. The deceased kept fairly well until 11.15 p.m. on Ihursday, when he complained of having a chill, and asked if anything could bo done for him. Witness rolled him in blankets, and wont downstairs to prepare a linseed poultice. Hearing a knock, she ran upstairs again. Her husband asked for something to spit in, then gave a struggle, and fell back on the arm of witness dead. She immediately sent her son, Charles, for Dr leave, but lie was informed that the doctor was out.” The police were informed of the case, and Constable Luke came to her house. Dr Teare arrived shortly afterwards. Deceased took the poison about 10.30 a.m., and as he vomited freely from the emetics given witness considered lie was quite safe! .and there was no danger ; that was the leason the doctor was not sent for at once.

Dr Teare deposed that Mrs Flanagin called on him on Thursday afternoon, and stated that her husband had taken lat poison. She described tho treatment she had followed, and witness re- * s le l‘ ac * acted judiciously. Witness was busy at the time, and considered Mrs Flanagin had done all that was necessary, and that he could not

do any more. Had he been at first he would have used i| pump. He did not remember ing the hospital for deceased quite likely lie did. at Ihouse after midnight 0 Vn T * day, and found Flanagin dead u hn * cold. The post-mortem *5’ b . ut ft* showed that the stomach was* with a hemorrhage leading walls of the stomach. The other were more or less diseased. The otEa,lJ reported to have been taken cations of arsenic, and the fluid v from the stomach was similar found in the stomach when opened proved to contain arsenic. no doubt that deceased with arsenic, which lie took by rat poison and water. J “lUnij

Constable Luke stated that he ~ informed of the case at 12 15 a *** the 17th inst He telephoned £ Teare, and then proceeded to a ceased’s house, followed by tho a l shortly afterwards. Witness felt ° C }? body, and found it still a little I,*; 9 but with no signs of life. atßl ' Detective Cox put in a statement v deceased’s son Charles, stating t W though deceased drank and was in Q health, the family lived happily Zj comfortably together, and deceased ha! no reason for talcing his life, and never gave an indication for doing so. et

The Coroner expressed surprise if Dr Teare not attending when first call ed, but considered his statement the treatment by deceased’s wife wai all that could be done, and all that ha himself could have done,” was a fair reply.

Airs Flanagin stated that when her husband was dying she sent her son for Dr Teare, but received the answer from a person at his house that the doctor “was out.” Mrs Flanagin was sura the doctor was in bed when her son called at his house, for when he arrived “ sleep was still in his eyes,” and he was attired in his pyjamas.

The Coroner considered it unwise rot to have called in tlio doctor at first. Mrs Flanagin, greatly agitated: Yes I suppose the misfortune was mine.

The Coroner: It was an error of judg. ment.

The jury expressed regret that the doctor did not attend when first called. The Coroner: I think it is right to take some notice of this matter, for some day loss of life will he caused through want of energy on the part of medical men. The Coroner pointed out that there was no evidence of temporary insanity, deceased seeming to have deliberately taken his life. ' The foreman: I think, if lie has been drinking heavily since Christmas, k would be despondent. The Coroner: I do not see anjeridonee to that effect. However, if ya think deceased was temporarily insane, then it should be mentioned. A juror: A mai\ who takes his life must be insane. The following verdict was returned, “ That, deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity by taking rat poison.” A rider was added to the effect that the jury regretted that Dr Teare did not attend when first called.