WOMAN'S SUICIDAL ACT

Grey River Argus, 6 August 1937, Page 7

WOMAN'S SUICIDAL ACT

Leads to Manslaughter [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, August 3. Coroner Ingleby Oddie, recording a verdict of suicide in connection with Mrs. Warburton, drew a distinction between constructive murder and constructive manslaughter, which is interesting nowadays, because it is not so strictly interpreted as formerly. inasmuch as a motorist killing a person by driving dangerously is usually punished for dangerous driving without being charged with manslaughter. Mr. Oddie expressed the opinion that a verdict of murder would be improper in the present case, though the old illegal doctrine established that when a person committing a felony unintentionally killed another, he was guilty of constructive murder. Similarly, a person committing misdemeanour unintentionally, causing another’s death was guilty of constructive manslaughter but since Mrs. Warburton was not fully in possession of her faculties when she committed suicide, she was not guilty of felonious intent. For that reason the death of Black was accidental and the verdict was returned accordingly. Mrs. Warburton’s husband disclosed that his wife had previously attempted suicide. Mrs. Warburton threw herself from a London window, falling on Black, a Birmingham visitor, who was kiled.