LIQUOR AND DRUGS

Southland Times, Issue 19256, 21 June 1921, Page 5

LIQUOR AND DRUGS

A CHEMIST’S DEATH. INQUEST AT WYNDHAM. An inquest was held at Wyndham yesterday, before Mr W. J. Currie, J.P., acting Coroner, and a jury of four, into the circumstances surrounding the death of John Robert Alexander Thompson, aged 30 who was, found dead in bed on Saturday. Deceased was a native of Oamaru and was a chemist by occupation. The wife of deceased stated that he had been in ill-health for some time past and had been in the habit of taking liquor and drugs. She last saw him alive at 5.30 a.m. on Saturday and on going to his room at noon found that he was dead. Dr Baird said that in his opinion the deceased had died through heart failure brought about through the excessive taking of alcohol and drugs. Constable Jones gave evidence in regard to the examination of the body, on which he stated there were no marks. On a chair in the bedroom he found some drugs and a partly consumed bottle of whisky. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.