CLERK’S DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1940, Page 2

CLERK’S DEATH

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Gerald William Dempsey, 47, married, a clerk t employed in the Social Security Department’s office at Greymouth, who was found hanging in the stone crushing plant at Karoro, on the morning of September 2, resumed at Greymouth to-day, beford the Coroner, Mr. G. G. Chisholm, S.M. Sergeant A. Barnes conducted proceedings for the pplice. * ' When the inquest was opened on September 2, evidence of identification, and of deceased’s state of mind was given by Gilbert Gregory McCarthy Mitchell, Registrar of ’ the Social Security Department at Greymouth.

Dr. H. S. Ray said that he was called to the stone crusher on the morning of September 2, arriving there about 9.20 o’clock, when he was shown the body of, deceased. The body was still warm, and witness would say that death had occurred two to three hours previously. Witness made a detailed external examination of the body later in the morning. It was well nourished, and there were no external signs of ill health. The finger nails had been bitten down extensively, indicating a nervous temperament. There were fresh abrasions over the right eyebrow, left temporal region and over the anterior aspect of both shins. These were superficial and from their position appeared to be due to a fall forwards. There was a' deep indentation, about three-eighths of an inch wide, commencing one inch behind the right ear and running obliquely round the back of the neck, and above the thyroid cartilage in front, to a point just below the angle of the right lower jaw. The skin in the indentation was blanched, due to continued pressure. The face was suffused. Death was due to strangulation by hanging. Francis Leslie Mason, an engine cleaner employed by the Railways Department, at Greymouth, said that he occupied the same room as deceased from May 11 to September 2, 1940. Deceased was of a nervous temperament and of a moody disposition. Witness knew that he was a returned soldier and had received some form of injury in the last war. About one month before his death, deceased was off work on account of his nerves and was being treated by Dr. Moore. Witness returned home about 12.30 a.m. on September 2, when deceased was then in bed and appeared to be asleep. Sometime later on in the morning, he could not say the exact time, witness heard deceased moving about the room. Witness asked him what the time was, ( but he did not answer, and witness then went off to sleep again. Deceased had never at any time suggested to witness that he intended to take his life.

James Weir, a labourer employed at the South Beach stone crusher, said that when he arrived at the crusher about 8 a.m., on September 2, he saw the body of a man hanging from a beam in the crusher. The man appeared to be dead. Witness called to the other men, Jack Barclay and William Gibson, and then, the former telephoned for the police. Witness did not interfere with the body. He did not know who the man. was.

Constable G. S. Murray said that, in company with Constable Dickson, he proceeded to the stone crusher at 8.35 a.m. On arrival, he .saw the body of deceased hanging ; by the neck from a beam in the' crusher. It was hanging by a wire rope, which had to be cut through by means of a hack saw before the body could be got down. The body was warm, and Constable Dickson immediately applied artificial respiration, whilst witness went to telephone for a doctor. Witness then • assisted with the artificial respiration until the arrival of Dr. Ray shortly afterwards. After examining the body, Dr. Ray stated that life was extinct. Dr. J. F. C. Moore said that he attended deceased for a period of about three weeks from July 22, 1940. He was suffering from influenza and depression. This depression was not wholly post-influenzal, but dated further back. Tffe actual origin seemed to be within the last war, when he was buried in an explosion, being rescued only at the point of asphyxiation. This left a state describable as “shellshock,” and named traumatic neurosis. The next factor was the long continued ill health of his wife which, he had discovered before witness • saw him, was at that stage permanent and incurable. These things had produced a state of psychasthenia or mental instability in which he was afflicted by obsessions—ideas of persecution and of motives being distorted and invested with false significance. In turn, lack of concentration and application produced ill-done work, with further worry on that account, and the seeking to find a solution which was unobtainable, except by resort to his obsession, and the con-' sequent production of more mental stress. On the last occasion on which witness saw deceased he was buoyed up with the hope of rejoining the army, and was anxious to return to work. It was probable that failure to realise his hope in that direction would send him further along the difficult path that was his.

The Coronei' returned a verdict that deceased died from strangulation, caused by hanging himself while he was in a state of a(?ute mental depression.. <