SUPPOSED POISONING. Mysterious Death of Girl at Ponsonby.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 107, 20 June 1885, Page 3

SUPPOSED POISONING. Mysterious Death of Girl at Ponsonby.

A young woman named Margaret O'Brien who was employed as domestic servant by Mr W. J. Courtney, Jervois Road, Ponsonby, died suddenly, under somewhat mysterious circumstances on 13th. June. She complained of being ill on Saturday afternoon, and lay down on the bed in her room. Mrs Courtney went in to see her, and she explained that she had been eating green lemons, and was subject jto bilious attacks, one of which she believed was coming on then. The girl was retching at four o'clock, and Mrs Courtney having told her husband that she wtfs ill, he went in to see her. She asked him to give her something, as she felt bad. He felt her pulse, whioh was about 65, and having no medicine in the house, gave her some peppermint with sugar and water. ThiB seemed to afford temporary relief. He offered to go ! for a doctor, but she refused her consent to this course. At half-past six he took her a cup of tea, and after drinking this she appeared easier. Mrs Courtney went in at half -past eight, and asked the girl- to undresB, but she said that she felt too weak then to comply, but would do so later on if she felt stronger. She comSlained of pains in her stomach. Mrs ourtney went to bed Boon afterwards, but about ten o'clock her husband went to the girl's door and rapped. Receiving no answer, he went into the room, and found that her breathing waB weak, and she appeared to be in a fit. He went to Cpnstable Collis's residence to secure his assistance in getting medical advice, but when they returned with Dr. Knight the girl was quite dead. The bedroom was searched, but no trace was found of any poisonous drugs. Some of the vomit was taken by Dr. Knight in a bottle in case it should be required for analysis, but, strangely enough no analysis had been ordered up till this after- j noon. Dr. Knighfi says the body has all the appearance of strychnine poisoning, but the symptoms described to him were not the same. He, however, believes that death was caused by some irritant poison. The inquest on the body commenced at Mr Courtney's house at two o'clock this afternoon. The girl is supposed to have a brother in the South, but no friends in Auckland. Mr Courtney has kindly consented to defray the funeral expenses. The deceased was only engaged by the Courtneys on Thureday last, at Whitcombe's Registry Office.