DEATH IN THE CELLS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1160, 22 June 1911, Page 3

DEATH IN THE CELLS.

THE INQUEST ENDS. "THE TOLICE NOT TO BLAME." At the Magistrate's Court yesterday (lie inquest, concerning the death of Charles llrown at the Lambton Quay Police i Station, was concluded before the City Coroner (Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M.). The police' were represented by Sub-Inspector Sheehaii. , Constable Smith, who conveyed deceased from the Mount Cook Police Station to the Lambton Quay Station on ' Sunday morning, stated that Brown made no complaint 011 the -way, nor did ho exhibit unusual symptoms. Constable Uallagher. watebhouse-lceeper at Lambton Police Station, deposed that, when Brown was handed over to him by Constable Smith, he made no complaint of illness, nor did he make any statement. He was searched and placed in the padded cell, and appeared to be all right when witness saw him ten minutes later. At 10 a.m. witness heard someone retching, and found that Brown was vomiting. When spoken to Brown remarked: "I' took two packets of arsenic at Mount Cook because they would not let ine out on bail." Witness informed the Station-Sergeant of this, and, acting on the latter's instruction, rang up Dr. Henry, and then gave Brown a cup of strong tea. From the experience which Witness had had, he did not notice any symptoms then which indicated .arsenical poisoning. Dr. Henry arrived within five minutes of being called, and administered an. emetic, and a hypodermic injection. Brown was then made comfortable in his | cell, and was visited every quarterof-.an i hour until a quarter to 5 o'clock in. thu afternoon. When witness saw him then he appeared to be better thau at- any time since the doctor had left. When he (witness) asked Brown how he felt, the latter replied: : "If,'you only, had my domestic trouble." • Constable J. M. .Cummings, who relieved Constable Gallagher during the dinner hour, also gave evidence. Witness had seen .Brown at 6 p.m. when he appeared to be asleep, and was breathing audibly. At 7.15 p.m. witness, in company with Constable Kelly, visited the cell, and found that Brown was dead. Station-Sergeant Darby, who , was in charge at Lambton Quay Station last Sunday, gave evidence as t'o the arrival of the'deceased at the station. ■ When it was reported that he was vomiting, witness went to. tho cell, and'.asked what was the matter. Brown said: "I took two ounces of arsenic'at Mount' Cook Police Station because they would not let me out on bail. Family trouble is the solo cause of my being here." Witness asked Brown where he got the arsenic, but the latter would not' say, and also subsequently declined to tell tho doctor. Constable Kelly, who relieved Constable Gallagher in, the. watch-house at 4.45 p.m., gave evidence as to visiting Brown's cell at intervals between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Subsequently as to finding him dead. This was at' 7.15 p.m.. The coroner, after remarking on the unpleasant circumstances which had led to the arrest, stated that it was apparent that the police'not-'only, did all that' was necessary, but that they made special efforts to make the patient as comfortable as it was possible to do. There was no doubt that Brown must have had poison in -his possession when arrested. His case had been treated as an ordinary one ' of drunkenness, and the police could, not. have been expected to make a more thorough search of him .than .they did at the time. 1 The verdict would be: "That deceased died from tho effects of a doso of arsenic self administered.'" The coroner added the following rider: "The evidence shows mo that the police took every care of that man whilo ho was in their custody and no blame'is attachable to tljem."