ACCIDENTALLY POISONED

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1931, Page 8

ACCIDENTALLY POISONED

DEATH OF FREDERICK N. DAVIES. “WRONG STUFF BY MISTAKE.'' The death of Frederick Nicholson Davies in the New Plymouth hospital the previous Sunday night was the subject of an inquest before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M. (district coroner) on Saturday. He found the cause of death was poisoning by strychnine, accidentally self-administered. A son, Lawrence Frederick Davies, a butcher by trade, but now employed as a labourer at the Waitaki hydro works, said his father wrote to him fairly frequently, the letters being cheerful and rivin" no indication of suicidal intentions. Charles Napoleon Kingstone, traveller, was attracted by cries for help, at 0.10 p.m. He said he -went to Davies’ place in Bracken Street, where he found Davies leaning against a tank. He appeared to be in pain and said he had “taken the wrong stuff.” Other neighbours arrived, including Constable Antill. They had apparently all been attracted by the cries. Davies was then removed to the hospital in witness’ car. To the magistrate; The cries commenced with sounds resembling “cooeeing,” but later it appeared that Davies was calling for help. Constable Antill gave similar evidence. When he arrived Davies was being carried to the road. He appeared to be in great pain. He had taken the wrong stuff by mistake, he said. Later, when again questioned, he said he had taken strychnine. Dr. C. A. Taylor, physician at the hospital, said that on arrival at the hospital Davies w-as in Such a state of collapse that his death was considered imminent. The usual treatment was given and 20 minutes later the patient appeared to rally. He shouted in an irrational manner, and they were unable to get him to say what he had done. Shortly afterwards he developed symptoms typical of strychnine poisoning. Another severe spasm occurred during which he was asphyxiated. His heart failed and he died half an hour after admission. No strychnine was found in the contents of the stomach. However, an. explanation might be that it was vomited after some had been absorbed into the system. The clinical diagnosis was that Davies had died from the effects of a spasmodic poison, such as strychnine. The contents of the bottle produced had responded to the tests for strychnine and tasted like it. A post mortem did not disclose any organic disease. Chemical tests for strychnine were negative. There were, however, colour reactions suggesting the presence of some other drug. There was evidence of a blow on top°of the skull, probably received years ago, but under the area in question there was no abnormal change. The brain was markedly congested. The doctor considered death arose through the effects of strychnine taken on top of a dose of some sedative drug. He assumed that the strychnine had been vomited after a certain poisonous amount had been absorbed into the system. _

Constable Wilson deposed to finding half a cup of tea amongst bottles and rubbish on the table. There was also a small bottle of what he thought.to be strychnine. This was the only white powder there that resembled strychnine. Tests applied by the dispenser at the hospital showed positive results for strychnine on the contents of the bottle, said Constable Butler, but negative results for the tea. Stanley George Burgess, carrier, said Davies had gone to Hawera with him on the Saturday and was with him all day. He had been with witness four days each week for the past three years. His health was good, considering tlio irregular manner in which he took his meals. On the Saturday morning he complained of a headache. He still had it when he finished work at one o’clock on Sunday morning. He had not been sick that day so far as witness knew. He had sat on the back of the lorry. His business was that, of selling bottles and he had had the privilege of free cartage on witness’ lorry. Davies did not worry as a rule. Any worries he did have were forgotten the next day. He appeared to be enjoying life this year more than previously. Davies often took risks by sampling the contents of second-hand bottles bought by him. He would use such things as sauce out of them. Witness had recently warned him of the danger of this. Sergeant McGregor conducted the proceedings for the police.