DROWNED IN THE LEITH

Evening Star, Issue 18998, 21 July 1925, Page 8

DROWNED IN THE LEITH

A DEPRESSED KIND Isabella Jane Whyte, fifty-eight, married, living at 90 Dundas street, was found drowned in tho Leith, near the Castle street entrance to tho Botanic Gardens, at an early hour this morning. The discovery was made by a neighbor, who reported the matter to the police. An inquest was opened this afterngon hy the coroner (Mr J. I?. Bartholomew, S.M.). Evidence of identification was gVcn by George Moflitt, gardener, residing at 16 Carr street, North-easi, Valley, a brother of the deceased. Deceased and "her husband, lie said, had been living apart. Witness had had lo arrange a separation. Tin? husband, a blacksmith, was, lie thought, living at Clinton. Deceased entered the hospital in November last. She was treated for insomnia. At the time she was completely run down. She was treated as an in-patient until May last, and since then had boon attending on different days as an out-palicni. She was of a nervous disposition. Witness last saw the deceased at 5.20 last evening, when site seemed to ho depressed. While in the hospital deceased itad threatened to do away with herself. Daniel Russell, carpenter, residing at 90 Dundas street, stated deceased was his sisfer-in-law, and had been residing at In’s home for five, weeks. Slut had been under treatment at the bos; ital, and was nervous and depressed. After tea last evening witness’s wife noticed Unit deceased was despondent, and took her out for the evening, returning home at about it) o'clock-. Shut went to bed alter a drink of coffee and a short conversation. While witness was having his breakfast he missed the deceased, and going into her room found that she was missing, lie then informed tho police. Dr J. G. Stewart, house surgeon of tho Dunedin Public Hospital, said he had received the deceased as an outpatient of the Dunedin Hospital on July 15, but noticed no signs of depression. The progress of the treatment for an injury to her spine, was quite satisfactory. Site had. he understood. been under treatment in a medical ward before being transferred as an out-patient to the orthopaedic department, with which witness was connected. - Mrs Elizabeth Jackson, living tit 2 Brook street, stated that she looked in the River Leith, which was adjacent to her house, tit about 7.15 a.m. She saw the body of a woman, fully clothed, with the exception of a hat, lying in tho river. Site informed the police. Formal evidence regarding the removal of the body to the morgue was given by Sergeant Farris Boulton. The Coroner (Mr 1. It. Bartholomew. S.M.) sajd "onld require further evidence regarding deceased's injury, and would require lo hear not. the house surgeon, but the practitioner who was in charge of (lie rase in the hospital. For that, purpose the inquest, would he adjourned until Monday, at 10 o’clock.