Poison Mentioned At Inquest On Young Farmhand

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 September 1950, Page 7

Poison Mentioned At Inquest On Young Farmhand

AUCKLAND. Yesterday—“He told me he took about half a cup of poison in salt form at 8 o’clock that evening because he was annoyed with his girl friend.” This statement was made in evidence by Dr. Kathleen Borg, Green Lane Hospital, today, when the city coroner, Mr Alfred Addison, was investigating the death of Raymond Bruce Hodgkinson, 19, farm hand. Dr. Borg testified that when she examined Hodgkinson at 10.45 on Monday night on his admission to hospital he was conscious and co-opera-tive, although restless. He said he took some soda before taking ’the poison, which he named, and it made him vomit. He also stated that he went to a doctor and told him he thought he had food poisoning. The doctor sent him to hospital. Witness said that the patient was given appropriate treatment, but at 2.30 yesterday morning, when she was called to see him, he suddenly collapsed and died at 3.35. The coroner directed that a postportem examination be made. He adjourned the inquest.