WAIHI TRAGEDY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11705, 18 December 1923, Page 7

WAIHI TRAGEDY

“ UNUSUAL FEATURES ” METALLURGIST DRINKS CYANIDE INSTEAD OF MEDICINE. CORONER’S COMMENTS. (Special to “N.Z. Times.”) AUCKLAND, December 16. The coroner’s investigations into the circumstances of the death of Charles Henry Taylor, metallurgist, who was found lying dead on the floor of his room in the Waihi Company’s battery at Waikino was held before the coroner (Mr W. M. Wallnutt). Dr Short said the result of a post mortem showed that the stomach contained a large quantity of cyanide. Two bottles produced (one of which was found broken alongside deceased) contained cyanide. A niece nf string found in deceased’s mouth smelt strongly of cyanide. Death was due 10 cyanide poisoning. John H. Griffen Banks, battery superintendent, said deceased had 'been m the habit of taking a auantitv of medicine, and his mantelshelf contained many bottles. He was of an experimental turn of mind, and had on occasions shown witness samples of ore and pulp. The bottles containing the cyanide solution were probably on the mantelshelf for purposes of experiment, and upon entering the room deceased may have inadvertently taken the wrong bottle. If deceased had decided to take cyanide he would have been more liable to have taken -ho pure sodium salts from the works. Evidence was also given by W. H. Quin. J. N. Jeeney, and Constable O’Neill. The coroner, summing up, said the case presented unusual features. There was nothing whatever to indicate that deoeased intended to take his own life; in fact, he was looking forward to having his family with him at Waikino. His verdict would be to the effect that death was due to cyanide poisoning. There was no evidence to indicate the intention of deceased to take poison, but it was probable that he did so inadvertently in mistake for medicine, which he was in the habit of taking. The coroner extended the sympathy of the court to the bereaved family.