SUDDEN DEATH.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVI, Issue 7648, 3 October 1893, Page 3

SUDDEN DEATH.

!/}■ .AN OVERDOSE OF MORPHIA. /.■•/,-.! -DIED, ON HIS WEDDING DAY. '''""' ■'"' ' Auckland, Ootobor 2. ■ . appears to be about 30 years of; age, was A ma v named Alexander L. Gillespie, who found pead in bed about eight o'clock ' this'inorninE: Deceased was employed byDr Neill, herbalist, Wellesley-street : 'East. Hisshopmate, Jonathan Wheeler, was in the habit of calling for him on go- ,, ing to his work,- He did so this morning : : arid when he went to deceased's bedroom at tho Warkworth Boarding House. of Upper, Queen street,, ho did not receive any reply 'after knocking at tho door. Upon entering the room Gillespie was s ; discovered dead.in bed. Mr Wheeler at x.bnce reported the mattor to Sergeant Lyons who immediately sent for Dr King and then 'went to deceased's bedroom Shortly afterwards Dγ King arrived, and after examination, stated that doath had ocourred some hours previously. There ,was, no sign of any struggle, neither were symptomß of poisoning observable. Sergt. Lyons took possession of some bottles in the bedroom, and also a glass which appeared to have contained morphia. Gillespie was last seen alive by Mr Joseph Hemus who occupies the ■'•'adjoiningroom in the , boarding house, Mr Hemus states that about a quarter before 12 o'clock last night ho went into

. , the room and found Gillespie sitting up ; /,jn bed smoking a cigarette. Ho asked Mr Hpmus to give him,a dose out of a . bottle in the, room, which' appeared to '' .'contain a mixture of some essences. Mr ' Hemus gave him the quantity directed, and before leaving tho room took Gilles- .. pie's, cigarettes away as he feared he might set fire to the bedclothos.the man ; ; being then apparently under the influence vlbfdrinki ' ; ;; An inquest wasjheld this afternoon when fthejury returned a.yerdict of death from 'an over dose of morphia. The evidence , showed that deceased had been drinking <;l 'heavily, and took a dose in that state; He 1 'was'to have been married to-day '.The ,: ' • deceased has relatives in Dunedin. ~!(!;-';:<'..-.if/■. i ' "_■ '■