UNUSUAL TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3850, 27 September 1928, Page 2

UNUSUAL TRAGEDY.

GIRL TAKES POISON AND ASKS FOR EMETIC. Auckland, Sept. 25. Unusual circumstances were disclosed at the inquest on Miss Muriel Priscilla Barton, aged 26, Avho fell dead in the shop of J. A. FallAvell, chemist, Papatoetoe, after taking poison late yesterday afternoon. Besides being an accomplished musician, Miss Barton was wellknoAvn in the district. For some time she had been in the employ of the Papatoetoe ToAvn Board. She resided Avith her father, Mr. S. R. Barton. It Avas stated that about 4.30 p.m. Miss Barton visited Falhvell’s shop and asked for poison stronger than some rat poison which she had previously purchased. Satisfied it was for the purpose of killing rats, the chemist supplied the poispn. Returning to the town board office, Miss Barton consumed about half the bottle of poison. She then telephoned to Fallwell and told him Avhat she had done, asking him Avhat she should do. Fallwell replied that he Avould give her an emetic and rush it to her but Miss Barton told him she Avould Avalk 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 Avho had been summoned by Falhvell, arrived to find Miss Barton on the floor. A medical examination had revealed deceased to be perfectly normal and the doctor could find no reason Avhy Miss Barton should have taken her life. Momentary fits of depression had been experienced by his daughter for a number of years, stated Mr. Barton, othenvise she Avas quite healthy. The Coroner, Mr. F. -K. Hunt, S.M., returned a verdict of death by poisoning Avhile in a momentary state of depression.