ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

Evening Star, Issue 20388, 21 January 1930, Page 9

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

DEATH OF HENLEY PARMER. That the deceased committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor while in a state of extreme mental depression caused by illness, was the verdict returned by the coroner (Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) at an inquest held at Henley" yesterday afternoon (into the circumstances surrounding the death of Alexander Francis Doull, a farmer. Isabella Doull f the widow, gave evidence of identification. For several years her husband had suffered from heart trouble, and had been depressed in consequence. He _ was attended by Dr Peters, of Mosgiel. On January 19 she rose at 5 a.m., and deceased, as was his custom since his illness/ remained in bed. She gave him some Kpuschen salts and water, and about 5.30 a.m. she gave him a cup of tea. She then went out to’ assist with the milking and returned to the bouse between 6.30 and 7. ■ After preparing some breakfast she went into the bedroom, but deceased was not in bed. She feared something itas wrong, and looked for him. She found him lying, face down, on the passage floor. He then appeared to be dead. While she was dressing, deceased asked if the razor had been brought back from the front room to the bedroom. She told him it was in the bedroom drawer. Deceased had ben shaved by a neighbour for the past few weeks. He said he did not require to be shaved that day, and she had no reason at all to think that he intended to injure himself. No letter was left by th© deceased. He had no financial worries, and was only depressed about his health. At no time did he ever threaten to commit suicide. ,

Dr Stuart Peters said he had attended Doull for the last twenty years, and frequently during the last ten years. He was suffering from myocarditis and a very high blood pressure. In March last, deceased developed a severe attack of influenza and got capillary bronchitis. Since thon liis heart had been in a very bad condition. For five weeks Doull was in bed suffering from serious heart trouble; About two weeks ago witness visited deceased, who objected to remaining in bed longer and wished to get up. Witness allowed him to get up and walk about during his visit. After examination, witness agreed' to let deceased up for an hour daily, under his wife’s supervision. Doull was advised to sell the place, and he agreed to do so. On January 16, witness saw him and ordered him back to bed. He was not then depressed. After hearing the evidence of Constable W. Southgate, the Coroner returned the verdict given above.

FATAL OVERTURN. Through a car overturning at Matawhero corner (Gisborne), Eric Ogren, a middle-aged man, married, with one child, suffered a fracture of the skull from which he died. George Nelson, the driver of the car, received serious injuries, and is now in hospital. The other men suffered minor injuries. The party consisted of waterside workers who had been in the country to make arrangements for the annual picnic. In rounding the corner the vehicle got off the crown of the, road, became unmanageable, and overturned. ACUTE DILATATION. Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., continued the inquest at Te Awamutu into the death of Daniel M‘Kay Seton, who died in the Waikato Hospital on December 18. After hearing the evidence of Susanna Muldoon, boarding house keeper, and Dr Hiskens, he returned a verdict of death from acute dilatation of the stomach induced by the excessive consumption of alcohol; This decision is in accordance with the evidence of the medical officer who conducted the post-mortem examination. —Press Association. OAR FALLS 100 FT. A Hastings telegram reads: “ A car ran over a bank oh the Te Ante Hill this morning about 7 o’clock and dropped more than 100 ft. Mrs Grenville Warren (of Pukehou), her brother (Mr Wright), and two friends—Mesdames Read and Campbell (both of Sydney)—the occupants of the car, were removed to Roystoa Hospital, Hastings.”