MENTAL DEPRESSION

Northern Advocate, 3 September 1935, Page 6

MENTAL DEPRESSION

BANKRUPT ACCOUNTANT DELIBERATE DROWNING. SUICIDE VERDICT. [Special to “Northern Advocate”! ‘ AUCKLAND, This Day. After hearing evidence at the, inquest yesterday into the death of William Henry Terry, accountant, of Bowling Avenue, EpsOm, whose body was found on the Te Papapa River foreshore last Sunday, the coroner (Mr D. A. Sutherland) returned a verdict of suicide while in.>a state of mental depression. Dr W. Howard Thomas, of Onehunga, said that at about 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 15,- he saw deceased looking at the Water on the Mangere side . of the harbour, and recognised him as one of his patients. Witness was driving across the Mangere Bridge at the time. On looking back witness saw Terry put down his * overcoat and his umbrella and make his way into the Water. Witness then turned and went backj but on reaching the spot,-Terry had disappeared. -

Witness crossed the, bridge to the Onehunga side and observed Terry come up under the bridge, swimming strongly towards the main channel. Witness called to him to •come in, but Terry merely looked up and continued on his way down-the harbour. Witness said he then drove to the Onehunga Wharf, but although there were several men about he failed to get a boat or assistance and notified the police. ' “Had there been a boat available,” added witness, “my opinion is that the man could have been rescued.” Stanley W. W. Tong said he had acted as deceased’s solicitor and knew that Terry had financial worry and was in ill-health.

Recently one of his creditors issued a distress warrant against his goods, and witness advised him to file a petition in bankruptcy. He did so on August 5, but refused, against advice, to attend a meeting of creditors. < A, R. Short, solicitor, said he had failed to persuade Terry to attend the meeting. Terry flung witness off outside Mr Tong’s office and walked awey on the morning just prior to the meeting, remarking: ‘T shall .finish the matter.” The \coroner found that deceased committed suicide by drowning while in a depressed state of mind brought about by financial worry.