INQUEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12036, 7 May 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

INQUEST.

THE SUICIDE OF AMY SUSAX HEA'J'HBK. A search under the supervision of tho police was commenced early on the 23rcl ult. (or the body of the young woman Amy Sur.an Heather, who drowned herself near the Anderson's Iky bridge on Monday night, and about 11 o'clock the body was found in the channel inside Anderson's IJay, lying in about 3ft of water. An inquest was held at the Iky View Hold, Anderson's Bay road, in tho atternnnn, before Mr C. C. Graham, coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr It. W. Price v.«s chc-en foreman. Oliver Heather, plumber, residiiiß in .Melville street, said he tvus the father of (he deceased. She was 21 years ol age. and unmarried He lust saw her alive on Monday morning about 8 o'clock, when ho went to work. On Monday night he heard she hail been drowned near the bridge at Anderson's Day. Ho had not tho slWitrat suspicion ot her having uny desire to do away with herself. She had been in very bad health for the last two or three mouths. She was sometimes in very low spirits, but never held out any threats of suicide to his knowledge. J)r Ogsloii had attended lirr lately. Albert William Heather, tram conductor, said he waa the brother of the deceased. He last saw her alive at 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon. She had just come downstairs, and seemed in very low spirits. She bad her hat and coat on, and said she was going i'unci to her sister's ill Maclaggan street. He did not see her alive afterwards. She had never said anything to lead witness to think she was going to commit suicide. Dr Ogston said tho deceased was anwmic nr.rt sleepless and in poor health generally. He had no suspicion from what he saw of her that she had any suicidal tendencies. She was depressed in spirits, as was usual in such cases. lie had examined the body. There were no marks of violence and no appearance of pregnancy. Thomas 11. Lawrence, engineer, M'Dride street, South Duucdin, said ho assisted with others to look for the body, and found it eventually at the head ol the channel inside Anderson's Bay. It was lying in aft ot water. Edward Hotting, butcher, lieid street, South Duncdin, said that on Monday about half-past u p.m. he was coming along the Portobello road, when he heard a cry for help. He saw a woman in the water under the bridge. She called again, and witness went to the water's edge and called to her to come nearer into shallow water, but the current carried her into deeper water. Witness being unable to swim was not able to give her any assistance. AVitncss went on to describe the steps he took to get a boat out to help the woman. Ho saw no :fiort made by the deceased to save licrsclf while in the wato:.

Sergeant Conn alf.o gave ividcucp. Tlic jury returned n verdict o[ " Siiiciclo by drowning when in a state o( temporary insanity."