INQUEST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 September 1925, Page 10

INQUEST.

DEATH OF M i;F MFECII. To inquire into the ci re uni stances surrounding the dentil of Grace Olive Murcli, nn inquest was held m Haw cm vestcrdav afternoon before, the ActingCoroner, Mr E. Dixon, J.P., and .a jury of four, consisting of Messrs R. W. «JMcNeil '(foreman), 11. \N ells, E. J. Briiui and E. A. Evans. Sergeant JHenry conducted the inquiry. Ovril Murcli and T. 11. Wallcei, husband and father of deceased respectively, gave evidence to show that when the former arrived home about 5.40 p.m. on Friday last he found the outer doors of the- house locked. He let himself in with a key, and, after going through several rooms in search of his wife, discovered that the bathroom door was locked from the inside. "With the assistance of Mr Walker and Mr C. H. Suistedi (a neighbour), who were hastily summoned, the door was forced, and tiie deceased.’ was found •banging from a peg behind" the door, although the body was not wholly off the floor. A doctor was l telephoned for immediately an?! artificial respiration was continued for three-quarters of an hour without result. A letter to- her husband from the. deceased was found later. Dr \V. M. Thomson said that lie was called to the house about 0 p.m., when l:e found, the deceased.dead. He used various measures to restore life, but without avail. The cause of death was strangulation. Witness had been attending the deceased for some .considerable- time, and, at the time of her death, she was making a goodi recovery from a long and severe illness", which was the cause of periods of depression. It was never expected that she would develop suicidal tendencies. The jury brought in a verdict, as follows: “That the deceased, came to her death bv her own hand while mentally depressed. The jury wishes to extend to the relatives of the deceased its heartfelt sympathy, and asks that the- letter left by deceased be suppressed from publication. ’ ’