INSTANT DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 9

INSTANT DEATH

EDGECUMBE FATALITY CONCLUSION~OF INQUEST CORONER'S FINDING SUICIDE [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WHAKATANE, Friday-, The inquest concerning the death of Mrs. Mary Daisy Ellis, who was electrocuted at Edgecumbe on.Monday last, which was opened on Wednesday, was concluded to-day before Mr. G. A. Brabant, coroner. Stanley W. Jenkins, linesman, said he had known deceased for eight years and had lived at the sub-station. On Monday at 5.50 a.m. Mr. Ellis came to his room and told'him his wife had climbed the power structure. . He immediately roused his neighbour, Mr. Sigglekow, and asked him to ring for the police and doctor. He saw Mrs. Ellis on the tower and rang Ngongotalia to cut ofl: the power. She was badly burnt from head to foot. He considered Mrs. Ellis highly strung and temperamental. She was subject.to fits of depression over the loss of her child.

Constable G. Edwards said he accompanied Dr. Appleby to the sub-station last Monday morning and examined the body, which was lying at the foot of the tower covered with a blanket. The clothes were burned off the body. The gate was unlocked. It would have been impossible for anyone to climb the fence.

I)r. F. ,J. Appleby said'ho received a call to Edgecumbe and arrived .at 6.30 a.m. The body was extremely burnt,, the head and neck being the worst affected. No treatment would have been of any value as the external injuries would show that the internal damage must have been considerable. Death would be instantaneous, the cause being shock and heart failure due to coming into contact with a high-power live wire. The coroner found that the deceased had taken her life by placing herself in contact with the electric structure and being electrocuted