Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Barrier Miner Tuesday 02 October 1923 page 1

SUPPOSED SUICIDE.
PINK POWDER IN DRINK
LEADS TO MAN'S DEATH

The Parkside police reported on Sunday that Clyde Arthell Allan Ashby (27), a painter, of Eden Hills, died at 2 a.m. Sunday, at the residence of Mrs.A. M. Nienaber, Wilkinsonroad, Parkside (says the "Advertiser"). Ashby is stated to have left Eden Hill, on Saturday to come to Adelaide. He had been in indifferent health for sometime owing to having been gassed at the war. He was a friend of Mrs. Nienaber, and was at her home at 6 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. They sat down at a table in the dining room to have, some tea, and she noticed him tip a phial of pink powder in his tea. She grasped the cup and threw the contents to the floor. Ashby left the house, but returned a few minutes later, and Mrs. Nienaber saw him near the back door drinking from a cup. Ashby was next seen lying on the ground on a vacant allotment of land opposite Mrs. Nienabers house. He was assisted inside the house and placed upon a bed. About ll o'clock he said he was feeling much better, and that it was only an attack of nerves. Shortly afterwards Ashby became affected with twitching turns, which continued until about 2 a.m., when he fainted. The Parkside police were summoned, and subsequently Dr. H. K. Fry was sent for, but Ashby was dead.