YOUTH’S DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26077, 14 February 1946, Page 6

YOUTH’S DEATH

EFFECTS OF POISON COMMENT BY CORONER (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 13. “ It cannot be too definitely stressed that one of the .objects of the wise and protective provisions of the Poisons Act and its regulations is to prevent persons contemplating self-destruction from obtaining the means to carry out their intention,” commented the city coroner, Mr A. Addison, when he concluded an inquest into the death of a 16-year-old signwriter, Allan Walter Ckrkfi. Evidence was given by a warehouse assistant that the deceased, whom he had known for six months, called on him at the warehouse on January 11., He asked witness to get him a certain poison. "I knew I could not supply Clarke with this poison,” concluded witness. ” Consequently I could not make out a docket in his name. He appeared to be in normal spirits and seemed anxious to get the poison and I made out a docket in my own name to avoid any difficulty.” “It is quite apparent that this unfortunate youth set about to destroy himself,” said Mr Addison. ‘‘There is evidence that before obtaining the fatal dose he had made two unsuccessful attempts to obtain poison. It is possible that the morbid state which prompted his rash act was the result of the breaking off of his relations with a young girl friend, or was associated with the effects of two falls which he is stated to have suffered.' Mr Addison returned a verdict that the deceased died in the Auckland Hospital from self-administered poison.