DEATH OF M.P.

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 28, 27 October 1932, Page 10

DEATH OF M.P.

Inquest on Late Mr. Black VERDICT OF SUICIDE Mind in Unbalanced State While mentally unbalanced, Mr. G. C. C. Black, M.P. for Motueka, whose body was found on Makara beach on October 17, died of poisoning, self-administer-ed. In' returning a verdict to this effect at the inquest yesterday, Mr. T. B. McNeil, S.M., coroner, said there was no doubt that the condition of Mr. Black’s mind, together with accumulated worries, and possibly the responsibility of the office he held, had caused him to take his own life.

Mr. George Morgan, taxi driver, said that at about 12.40 p.m. on October 17 he was playing billiards in a city saloon when Mr. Black, whom he knew, came in, took him to one side, and said he wanted to' go to Plimmerton or Makara. As they were walking out of the saloon Mr. Black remarked: “I have too many friends in town.” He said he wanted to get away from drinking. He got into the cab and asked to be driven to Makara. He did not appear to be under the influence of drink. His appearance was normal and his speech was quite rational. He did not speak all the way to Makara except to say once that the road was rough. Cheque for Taxi Fare. “I drove straight down to the beach to within a few yards of the water edge,” continued witness. “I stopped and said that was about as. far as I could go. I waited there for about ten minutes before he spoke. He was still sitting in the cab smoking. He smoked one cigarette and then started to roll another. He asked me how much he owed me. On being told he wrote out a cheque and gave it to me. He passed some remark about the weather and then said: ‘There is someone trying to pot me up there, and I don’t want them to know where I have gone. Promise me on your word of honour not to say anything where you have taken me.’ “He said he would ring for me when he wanted to come back to town,” witness added. “He said this because I asked him if he wanted me to wait. He then walked along the. water, edge round the point and out of sight. He had his hands in his pockets and was smoking. At no time was his conduct peculiar, and he did not give any indication that he had any intention of committing suielde.” Detective Hall said that on the evening of October 17 he went to Makara beach in a motor-car, accompanied by Constables Pointon and Spencer. He saw the body, which was lying on its back with the right hand across the chest and the left arm extended toward the west. An overcoat was nearby. Some broken glass was near the head and under the body was a bottle containing amber-coloured fluid. There were no signs of a struggle. In the possession of the dead man were some papers, one of which purported to be a rough drawing of a will. M.P. Gives Evidence. Mr. E. F. Healy, M.P. for Wairau, said he had known Mr. Black for about four years. In the last twelve months he had noticed a change in his manners and habits. When he first saw him he was bright and alert and did not appear to allow anything to worry him, but latterly his outlook on life appeared to have altered considerably. Deceased was addicted to drink. “Although time and time again he promised me he would refrain from taking liquor, I found shortly afterwards that he was again imbibing,” said witness. “This fact, together with other incidents, convinced me that he had lost his will power. Toward the close of last session of Parliament I noticed that he was becoming queer. I know that he had been financially embarrassed for some time past and had had considerable domestic worry. Although his conversations with me were perfectly rational, I was convinced in my own mind that he had been mentally deranged for some time past. lam aware that for some time he was a voluntary patient in a mental hospital. I consider he should still have been under control of some sort, as, in my opinion, he was not in a fit state mentally to be at liberty.” Mr. Walter Collings, retired Civil Servant, said he had known Mr. Black all his life. During the past ten or twelve months, he considered deceased to be somewhat strange in manner and very erratic in his ways. He had never had any sense of responsibility and was obsessed with an - idea that a river near Collingwood was full of gold and that it was sufficient to wipe off all the debt of the country. Talk of Poison. “I am convinced from my observations of deceased that he was not quite normal mentally,’ said witness. “His conversations were fairly sound and rational, but they usually finished up with the stated opinion that his mother-in-law was harrying him unnecessarily and was actually behind all his troubles. I knew he was in financial difficulties. On one occasion he said to me that the best way to get out of it was to end it all and that poison was a quick process. I did not think he would end his life in that manner. I chided him for saying so.” “It Is quite apparent from the evidence I have heard,” said the coroner, “that deceased was not in his normal state of mind at the time he met his death by his own hand, nor had he been for some time. His actions, according to those who knew him well, clearly show that. In addition there is the fact that during the last few months he had been a voluntary patient in a mental hospital. That alone.is sufficient to account for the death of accused, who was worried financially. There is no doubt the condition of his mind, together with accumulated worries of his own,, and possibly the responsibility of the office he held, caused him to do what he did. My finding is that deceased died from the effects of poisoning, self-administered while mentally unbalanced.”