SUICIDE THROUGH DRINK.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 318, 20 January 1902, Page 2

SUICIDE THROUGH DRINK.

STRANGE CONDUCT OF A DOCTOR.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. An inquest was held to-day on tha* body of the late George Flanagan, laborer, who died at midnight on Thursday from the effects of poison, selfadministered. The widow of deceased stated that he had been drinking for some time, and had not eaten moat for a fortnight before his death. Ho had apparently mixed some arsenic in a bottle -he always kept in his bedroom, and drank the contents. This was about 8.30 a.m. on Thursday. Shortly after he commenced to vomit. She gave him some soda and water as an emetic, and barley water and milk. He continued to vomit, so she went to Dr. Teare. He refused to attend the man, and advised further supplies of barley water. Her husband continued in a bad state, finally dying in her arms. The police were summoned. They called Dr Teare, and he then came quickly. Dr Teare deposed that Mrs Flanagan came to him on Thursday afternoon. She stated that her husband had taken rat poison, and described her treatment. Witness replied that she had acted judiciously. Witness, who was busy at the time, thought that she had done all that was necessary, and that he could not do any more if he went. If ho had been called in at first he would have used the stomach pump, but after repeated vomiting, as described by Mrs Flanagan, there would have been no object in using the pump. The post mortem showed the presence of arsenic in the stomach, which had caused inflammation and hemorrhage. The Coroner stated that he had felt sorry that Dr Teare had not come when first called. The doctor had met this by stating that deceased had been rightly treated by his wife, and that she had done all that could be done. The foreman and other members of the jury thought it a pity that Dr Teare did not come when he was asked to do so by Mrs Flanagan, and when she stated that her husband was poisoned. The jury returned a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane, and expressing their regret by rider that Dr Teare had not attended the deceased when summoned.