DEATH FROM THROAT WOUND

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21134, 9 April 1934, Page 13

DEATH FROM THROAT WOUND

+—.— INCH'EST HELD AT HOSPITAL | Simeon Brophy. aged tl. who was found in a small room adjoining the bar at the Royal Hotel with his throat cut and a razor lying beside him on Friday, died in the Public Hospital on Saturday evening. An inquest was he!d at Mac hospital yesterday afternoon before the coroner. Mr H. A. Young, and a verdict returned that Brophy died from a wound sclf-m----jlicted. while suffering from epileptic fits. Brophy's last address was the Public Works Department camp at Lake Sumner. Constable L. P. Rickctls conducted proceedings for the police. Joseph Brophy, a brother, gave evidence of identification, and stated that it was two years since he had last .seen Simeon Brophy. His brother had suffered from loss of memory and epileptic Jits since his return from the war. Witness could not suggest any reason for his brother's action, other than a deep depression caused by tits. Operation Performed Charles Henry Marshall, of Argus street. Sydenham. said he saw Brophy about 4.:j0 p.m. on Friday in the Royal bar. Witness heard the sound of some one lulling in the bar and lie went round and saw Brophy lying on the lloor. Later witness saw that Bi'ophv had a razor in his hand. His throat was cut'. The ambulance was called and Brophy was taken to hosp'taJ. Dr. F. A. Craig, a house surgeon at the Public Hospiu.l. said she saw Brophy on his admission to ward

on Friday. He was semi-conscious, suffering trom severe shock, and a wound across the throat. An operation was performed next morning on his neck. He did not rally, and died early that morning from shock, which had followed injuries to the throat. Martin Harrison, barman at the Royal Hotel, said he did not know Brophy, and did not notice him in the bar, or serve him with liquor on Friday. Witness was not in the portion of the bar where Brophy fell, but he heard the fall. Constable Ricketts gave evidence of his visit io the Royal Hotel, in company willi another constable, when Brophy was being attended to by nurses of the St. John Ambulance. On the following day witness was informed at the hospital that Brophy had been treated several times for epileptic fits, and that he had at 2 p.m. on Friday procured tablets for the prevention of tits. Papers witness found on Brophy indicated that his last address had been the Public Works Department camp at Lake Sumner road. A verdict was returned that Brophy died at Ji p.m. on Saturday from a wound self-inflicted on April 0 while suffering from epilepsy.