‘UNDOUBTED’ SUICIDE
Man Missing On Ruahine (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, March 31. The ship’s doctor on the New Zealand liner Ruahine told a court of inquiry today he had “no doubt” that a passenger committed suicide on a voyage from New Zealand to London. A British Ministry of Transport inquiry was being held into the disappearance of Magnus Murray, aged 52, a building contractor, of Brae, Shetland Islands, Northern Scotland.
A verdit of “missing, presumed drowned or killed” was returned. Murray disappeared on the night of March 26-27 while the ship was in midAtlantic. The doctor, Jeremy Dyson, aged 24, said Murray had visited his surgery several times during the voyage.
“I have no doubt now that the man committed suicide, but I did not consider that possibility at the times I spoke to him,” be said. The ship’s captain, Albert Hocken, of Adelaide, said he had considered turning back and looking for Murray, but in view of the rough, choppy seas had decided not to. “There was no hope of survival. Even a strong swimmer would not have lasted more than about half an hour in the water," he said.
The captain said no lifebelts were missing.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30405, 2 April 1964, Page 10
Word Count
196‘UNDOUBTED’ SUICIDE Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30405, 2 April 1964, Page 10
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