TAKES POISON

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1932, Page 4

TAKES POISON

WOMAN IN HOSPITAL,

VERDICT OF SUICIDE. fßy Telegraph —Per Press A ssociation) AUCKLAND, April 7. The death of the woman who took poison while 6he was a patient at the Auckland Hospital, was investigated by the; Coroner, Air Hunt, iS.M., at the inquest to-dov. The deceased was Ziltatu May Booth, aged 43, a married woman, with two children, whose home was in Papatoetoe. She died in the hosp'tal oil February 19 fh.

Nurse Ringi May Osmond, said she was on duty in the ward ,in which the deceased was a neurasthenic patient. ■She heard sounds outside, and .found the deceased, who said, ‘1 have finished it now."*, Witness had not seen the deceased leave trie ward. It was usual for her. in common with the other patients, to use the bathroom at will. Nurse Nellie Barnett, said she also was on duty in the ward. She knew that Mrs Booth was under treatment for neurasthenia. When witness spoke to her about 6.15 a.m., she seemed to be normal, but about an hour later Nurse Osmond called her and said that Mrs Booth thud taken poison. After the deceased had been placed in bed, witness called the senior Sister. On her return, Mrs Booth was almost unconscious, and witness could not question her as to how she had obtained the poison. The dressing room at the end of the ward could be the only place where the woman could obtain poison, which was not locked in a cupboard. There was always a nurse in the ward, but patients who could do iso, woio allowed to leave at will for the bathroom. Mrs Booth had not been noticed by any of the patients to leave her bed. or enter tlm dressing room. Dr Gould, acfing-Medical Superintendent at the hospital, said poison was kept in the dressing room of every ward. It would not he convenient to keep it always under lock. He would not say that the nurses had ridfi been vigilant in allowing the deceased to leave the ward. The Coroner returned a verdict of suicide, while of unsound'mind.