COMMENT BY CORONER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 43, 20 January 1936, Page 8

COMMENT BY CORONER

YOUNG DEATH

REGRETTABLE INCIDENT

“I am of the opinion that in all cases ol private committals to a mental hospital, where police aid is involved, the escorting constable should be made fully acquainted with all particulars regarding the conduct ol the patient in order that the proper precautions may be taken for the patients isaiety.” This pronouncement was made by the Coroner, Mr A. J. Graham, at the close of an inquest tojday on the circumstances of tue deatli -of Laurence Frederick McNi-e, aged 25, of Raetihi, on Eoxton Line on Saturday when it was shown that the 1 escorting constable did not know of : deceased's suicidal tendencies. The ' Coroner’s verdict was that deceased | had been accidentally killed by having hurled liimoelf from a moving car, while insane, in front of an oncoming ear. It seemed to him to be a very determined case of suicide, the- Coroner remarked. Deceased had apparently watched the approach of the other .car and then suddenly hurled himself from the vehicle in which lie was travelling. The case for the police was conducted by Sergeant W. O’Donnell. At a previous sitting of the Coroner’s Court, on Saturday, evidence was given by deceased’s father that deceased had not enjoyed good health for some years.* On January 15 ‘ deceased had shown definite suicidal tendencies. On January 17, on the advice of a doctor, deceased was taken to the Wanganui Hospital and the next day witness took him from the hospital to transport him to the Porinia Mental Hospital. "Witness drove the car, Stanley Moson being also in the front seat. Deceased and Constable O’Brien, of Wanganui, were in the back seat. When' the car was about nine miles from Palmerston North the door flew open and deceased jumped out without warning. He was struck by a ear going in the opposite direction and killed instantly. The committal was a private one, but at his request the police had provided an escort. Witness said lie was under the impression that the escorting constable knew the case was suicidal, but it dul not occur to witness to warn the constable of that tendency, as the patient was so quiet during the journey. ‘ Constable Patrick Joseph O’Brien, stationed at St. John’s, Wanganui, stated that he sat in the back soai with the patient. All went well until the patient suddenly opened the door of the ear and dived out on to the road, where lie was struck by a passing motor car and killed instantly. As the patient went through the door witness attempted to seize him, but unsuccessfully. After leaving Palmerston-. North witness saw deceased trying to close the door properly and witness was satisfied that the door was properly closed. The car was travelling at an average speed of 40 to 45 miles an hour. Witness had not been informed that the case was of a suicidal nature, as the committal was a private one. Had witness known that such was the case he would have seen that the door was locked or that the patient was handcuffed to witness.

Evidence was given at*.to-day’s sitting by Mr D. M. Mitchell, medical practitioner, that he was hurrying back from Glen Oroua by way of Tiakitahuna and on the straight road he saw another ear approaching. When it was a car’s length or so wav the back door flew open and a man hurled himself from it to land prone on the road across the path of witness’s car. Witness swerved, but failed to avoid the man fully. The man wad killed instantly. He struck the road before being struck by witness’s car. After delivering his verdict, the Coroner remarked that the police had provided an escort at the request of deceased’s father. A regrettable feature was that the escorting policeman had not been informed of the- suicidal tendencies of deceased. The Coroner then stated his opinion ' as already given. The behaviour of the patient while on route from Wanganui was such as to impress the constable that it was only an ordinary case of a quiet patient. Had tin* constable known that deceased had previously attempted to commit suicide, and had been certified to as a suicidal case, the constable would probably have taken extra precautions. Although both cars were travelling at a high rate of speed, that had had nothing to do with deceased’s death. No blame was attachable to anyone concerned.