BOOTMAKER’S DEATH

Grey River Argus, 12 March 1938, Page 2

BOOTMAKER’S DEATH

INQUEST AND VERDICT. »*■ An inquest touching the death of Edward Thomas Groufsky, 48, bootmaker, who was found dead in his Tainuf Street shop on March 7, was held at Greymouth yesterday before the Coroner, Mr. Raymond, Ferner, S.M. The proceedings were conducted by Senior-Sergeant E. Quayle. Edward Charles Groufsky, kiln dry worker, residing at Kotuku, son ot deceased, .said that his father was a boot repairer, and carried on business in Tainui Street, Greymouth, residing at Nelson Quay, Cobden. He and witness’s mother were divorced some years ago. Witness’s mother was married again, and resides in Christchurch. Elsie Pattinson was employed by-deceased as housekeeper, and witness’s sister, Florence Grouf sky, aged 13 years, resided at home with deceased. There are three other brothers, Frank, 21, residing in Christchurch; Richard, 18, and Joseph, 17, both of Greymouth. Deceased was 48 years of age. He always enjoyed good health, and witness had no knowledge of him complaining of anything beyond a headache occasionally. He always seemed cheerful, and had never at any time threatened to take his life? Witness last saw him alive on Saturday, March 5, working in his shop in Tainui Street. Witness was talking to him, and deceased seemed his usual self. Witness could not put forward any reason why deceased should take his life. When searching through the house on March 8, a bag was found, containing war souvenirs and discharges belonging to deceased, and inside a film hook in this bag was found a note, which read: “In the event of my death this is to be given to my daughter, Florence.” Witness could not say. if it was deceased’s handwriting, but most of the contents of the bag belonged to deceased. Miss Elsie Pattinson said that, for the past two years, she had been employed by deceased as his housekeeper. He usually enjoyed good health 1 but had had a lot of worry lately, ow- , ing to business being bad. He had complained to witness that he could not make a living at it. To her knowledge, deceased had never threatened to take his life. Ho left home at Cobden about 7.30 a.m. on March 7, to go to work, and seemed in, his usual health. Florence Groufsky and wit ness were the only ones at home when deceased left. Witness had to go to town that morning, and intended to call and see deceased at his shop. She came into town about 10 o’clock, and, on going to the shop, found the front door closed and iocued. She thought deceased had gone to get leather, and she did not wait When deceased did not come home at noon for his lunch, witness thought that something must be wrong, and decided to go back to the shop. She found the front door, still locked. She went round to the back and pushed the back door open. She found deceased lying on his stomach, with his head covered with an overcoat. The room was full of gas. Witness found a gas tap in the corner of the room, and turned the gas off. She did not notice any gas tube. She shook de ceased, but he appeared to be stiff, and she thought he was dead. She then informed Miss Lanigan, who keeps a shop next door, and the police were sent for. The back door was closed, but not locked. One of the windows was open slightly. Miss Cathleen Philomena Lanigan, shop assistant at the Catholic Book Depot, Tainui Street, said that deceased had occupied his shop for the past five years to her knowledge. He usually had his shop open when she arrived in the morning. Shortly after she opened her shop at 8.30 a.m. on March 7, someone came in and asked for deceased, and she then found that his shop was closed. She did not hear deceased moving about in his shop,

but did not take much notice of that, as she thought that he had gone into the town on business. Deceaseds housekeeper inquired for Groufsk > about 10.30 a.m. About noon, she r turned and went around to the ba« of his shop. She called out, I can smell gas.” Witness then a scream, and a few minutes latei the housekeeper came in and told witness that Groufsky was gassed. Witness did not go to where deceased was lyin«-. She often had a conversation with deceased, and he always appeared bright. She saw him last Saturday morning, and he appeared his usual self. . Constable McQuarrie said that, at 12 25 p.m. on March 7, in consequence of information received, he accompanied Sergeant Barnes to the shop. Witness found the back door open Deceased was lying on his stomach on the floor, only a few feet from the door, with his head inclined to the right, and partly covered with an overcoat. The room smelt strongly of gas. Witness turned deceased over and opened his shirt, making a cursory examination, but there was no sign of life. Deceased was stiff down the right side, rigor mortis having set in. Dr. Bird arrived shortly afterwards, but could only pronounce life extinct. There was a gas tube close to deceased’s head, but the gas had been turned off before witness arrived. He searched the room for any writing that might have been left by deceased, but there was no trace of any. Witness also searched the clothing of deceased, but could find no letter or note. Having regard to the circumstances and the position of the body, witness formed the opinion that deceased had committed suicide. Dr. W. A. Bird said that he was called to the shop by the police, and found that Groufsky had been dead in the vicinity of two or three hours Witness formed the opinion that death, was due to the inhalation of coal gas. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died on March 7, the cause of death being suicide, by the inhalation of coal gas.