MR. BLACK’S DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 October 1932, Page 7

MR. BLACK’S DEATH

EVIDENCE OF ILLNESS

THE CORONER’S VERDICT

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, October 26.

An inquest was held by Mr McNeil (Coroner) regarding the death of the late Mr G. C. Black, M.P.

After hearing the evidence of the taxi driver, who drove deceased to Makara, and other witnesses, who had been in close contact with Mr Black shortly before his death, Mr McNeil said it was quite apparent that deceased was not in a 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 showed that. In addition, there was the fact that during the last few months he had been a voluntary patient in a mental . hospital. That, alone, was sufficient to account for the death of deceased, who was also worried financially. There was no doubt that the condition of his mind, together with accumulated worries of his own, and possibly the responsibility of the office he held, caused him to take his own life. • A verdict was returned according to the medical evidence, that deceased died from the effects of poisoning, self administered, while he. was mentally unbalanced.