Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Tuesday 6 October 1891, page 6


POISONED BY MISTAKE.

SAD DEATH OF A PAINTER.

Mr Thomas Flintoff, portrait painter, died in the Melbourne Hospital yesterday morn-ing after a short and painful illness caused by a sad mistake of his own. Recently he became afflicted with influenza, and obtained a bottle of ammonia liniment from the

Hospital for outward application to his chest and another bottle of cough mixture. Early on Sunday morning Mr. Flintoff, whilst lying in bed at his residence, 196 Berkeley-street, Carlton, in the darkness mistook the lini-ment for the cough mixture and drank off a quantity of the former. He soon discovered his mistake, but being alone in the house he could not help himself, and had to lie dying and helpless until three hours had passed, when he was discovered by two friends who went to call upon him. They took him to the Melbourne Hospital, where he lingered until 6 o'clock yesterday morning.

Mr Flintoff was almost 80 years of age. His speciality in art was portrait-painting, and several of his works have been hung in the National Gallery. His death has been reported to the city coroner, who will hold

an inquest concerning it to-day.