David Daniel Percival Hockey was born in 1885[1] in Berry, New South Wales, Australia as the second child of Charles Hockey and Mary Ann Langley. He had four siblings, namely: Charles Henry Hill, Mary Emma May, Albert Arthur, and Samuel Spencer

When he was 25, He married Eva E M Delaney, daughter of Denis Delaney and Sophia, in 1910[2] in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia.

David Daniel Percival Hockey and Eva E M Delaney had the following children:

1. Marie H Hockey was born in 1911 in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia.

2. Hazel.

3. Beryl.

David was employed in Murwillumbah, as an Auctioneer.

In the early hours of the morning on Friday 30 May 1930, David who had been feeling unwell, woke up and drank what he thought was cough mixture. Eva discovered that he had made a mistake in the bottles and drank weed killer. He was given an antidote but later he became violently ill. At 2.30p.m., suffering terrible agony, he was taken to the Murwillumbah District Hospital by ambulance. David died[3] two hours after admission. He was 44 years old.

A Coronial Inquest was held and his cause of death was ruled “Accidental Arsenic poisoning self-administered. No evidence to show cause.”[4]

Citations:

1. NSW Registry Of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 32397/1885.

2. NSW Registry Of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 9235/1910.

3. NSW Registry Of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 9599/1930.

4. Registers of Coroners´ Inquests and Magisterial Inquiries, 1834-1942, Page 289-290.

External Links:

TRAGIC DEATH DRANK WEED KILLER MURWILLUMBAH, Friday - Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954) Saturday 31 May 1930 p 5 Article - 31 May 1930

TRAGIC DEATH DRANK WEED KILLER MURWILLUMBAH, Friday - David Daniel Percival Hockey, aged 44, of Burringbar, died today in tragic circumstances. Deceased arose early this morning to take a dose of cough mixture, but made a mistake in the bottles and helped himself to weed killer. He took an antidote immediately, but several hours later complained of feeling ill, and at 2.30p.m. was taken to the Murwillumbah District Hospital by the ambulance. He died two hours after admission. The late Mr. Hockey had resided in the district for 20 years, and for more than 16 years conducted an auction eer and commission agent's business in the Burringbar district. He took an interest in public affairs, and particularly in sporting matters. He was also a prominent member of the M.U.I.O.O.F. Deceased leaves a widow and two daughters, Hazel and Beryl.

FATAL MISTAKE POISON, NOT MEDICINE TWEED MAN'S DEATH - Sunday Mail (Brisbane) (Qld. : 1926 - 1954) Sunday 01 June 1930,  page 4 - 01 June 1930

FATAL MISTAKE POISON, NOT MEDICINE TWEED MAN'S DEATH MURWILLUMBAH, Saturday - David Daniel Hockey (44), auctioneer, of Burringbar, and a highly respected resident of the district, died last night in the Tweed District Hospital, Murwillumbah, from poisoning. It is stated that Mr.Hockey rose between 3 and 4 yesterday morning to take a dose of cough mixture. He took the draught, and immediately remarked to his wife that the mixture had a bitter, foreign taste. Mrs.Hockey investigated, and discovered that Mr. Hockey had drunk from a bottle of weed poison. Help was immediately summoned, and an antidote administered. Later in the day Mr.Hockev became violently ill. He was conveyed to Murwillumbah and admitted to the Tweed District Hospital in a serious condition, but died last night.

NEWS IN BRIEF - Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW : 1896 - 1938) Friday 6 June 1930 p 26 Article - 06 June 1930

Mr. David Daniel Hockey, 44, auctioneer, of Burringbar, died in the Tweed District Hospital, Murwillumbah, from the effects of poison. Mr.Hockey arose to take a' dose of cough mixture. After swallowing the dose Mr.Hockey remarked to his wife that the mixture had a bitter, foreign taste, and Mrs. Hockey discovered that her husband had drunk from a bottle of weed poison. An antidote was administered, but later Mr. Hockey became violently ill, and died soon after admission to hospital.

Drank Poison for Cough Mixture - The Farmer and Settler (Sydney, NSW : 1906 - 1957) Saturday 07 June 1930 page 2 - 07 June 1930

Drank Poison for Cough Mixture, Taking a draught of weed poison In mistake for cough mixture, David Daniel Hockey (44), auctioneer of Burringbar, suffered terrible agony, and died soon after admission to the Murwillumbah Hospital.

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