YOUNG MAN'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21597, 15 September 1933, Page 14

YOUNG MAN'S DEATH

SHOCK FOLLOWING WOUND •VERDICT AT THE INQUEST An inquest was held yesterday by the coroner, Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., into the death of Charles Lawless, s aged 23, of 54 Dryden Street, Grey Lynn, who died at his home shortly after noon on Wednesday. There was a severe cut in his left forearm. Catherine Marion Lawless, mother of deceased, said that her son was single and a bootmaker by occupation. He was a cripple and had had several operations in past years. He had been in ill-health for tho past 12 months and had not been able to work for the three days preceding his death owing to illness. ■ When witness left home at 10.45 a.m. on Wednesday, deceased was still in his bed. He told her he had been to the chemist and had had a blood test taken, and said that he was going back that morning to find the result. Later witness went to the chemist mentioned, but found that deceased had not had the test taken. Deceased had never threatened to take his life.

Joyce Lawless, aged 18, sister of deceased, gave evidence of having found deceased in his bed on her return home shortly after noon. He did not speak to her and sho went next door to secure help. A neighbour, Mrs. Helen Smith, said that whon she went into deceased's room, ho was bleeding severely from a cut in tho arm. He was alive, but did not speak. When witness returned in five minutes, after going to get brandy, ho was dead. The coroner found that the cause of death was shock, following loss of blood from a wound in the left arm, selfinflicted while deceased was mentally depressed.