GIRL FALLS DEAD IN SHOP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18576, 26 September 1928, Page 6

GIRL FALLS DEAD IN SHOP.

BUYS POISON, TAKING IT WHILE DEPRESSED. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 25. Unusual circumstances were disclosed at the inquest on Miss Muriel Priscilla Barton, aged twenty-six, who fell dead in the shop of J. A. Fallwell, chemist, Papatoetoe, after taking poison late yesterday afternoon. Miss Barton, who was an accomplished musician, was well known in the district. For some time she had been in the employ of the Papatoetoe Town Board. She resided with her father, Mr S. H. Barton. It was stated that about 4.30 Miss Barton visited Fall well’s shop and asked for poison stronger than rat poison she had previously purchased. Satisfied that it was for the purpose of killing rats, the chemist supplied the poison. Returning to the Town Board office Miss Barton consumed about half a bottle of poison. She then telephoned to Mr Fallwell and told him what she had done, asking him what she should do. Mr Fallwell replied that he would give her an emetic and rush it to her, but Miss Barton told him she would walk to his shop, four or five chains away and take it there. Just as she walked into the shop she died. Dr J. J. Valentine, who had been summoned by Mr Fallwell, arrived to find Miss Barton on the floor. A medical examination revealed deceared, to be perfectly normal and the doctor could find no reason why Miss, Barton should have taken her life. Momentary fits of depression had; been experienced by his daughter for a number of years, according to Mr Barton. She was quite healthy. The Coroner, Mr Hunt, S.M., returned a verdict of death by poisoning, while in a momentary state of depression.