INQUESTS

Southland Times, Issue 18928, 30 April 1923, Page 4

INQUESTS

WILLIAM CONDON. At the Magistrate’s Court before Mr G. Cruiskshank, S.M., on Saturday an inquest was held into the circumstances of the death of William Condon who was found hanged on a vacant section in Nith Street on April 12. George Gibbs, coal merchant, said that on April 13 he was driving along Teviot Street about 7.20 a.m. when he noticed a man hanging from a tree on a vacant section. He immediately went and cut the rope and loosened it from deceased’s neck. He then sent for the police. He was present when Dr Barclay arrived and pronounced life extinct. Close beside the tree was a box which had been tipped over. John Coster, milk-man, said that on April 13 a boy came to him and said a man had hanged himself round the corner. He telephoned the police and then went to the spot where he found the man lying partly on the footpath. He identified deceased aa William Condon, who had previously been in his employ. » Patrick Condon, father of the deceased, said that he last saw his son alive about 10 p.m. on April 12. The son shook hands when he left and said he had left a note under the door. There were tears on his face and he appeared considerably affected. He, Patrick Condon, then went back and got the note in which his son expressed the intention of committing suicide, and hinted that it was the result of an estrangement with his wife. Witness then communicated with the police and they searched unsuccessfully till 2 in the morning. Constable Usmar said that in deceased’s pocket was found a telegram from his wife in Dunedin sa>’ing she would write next day. Senior-sergeant Scandrett said deceased had been to see him on April 12 and told him that his wife had sold the furniture. Deceased had come down from Dunedin to see her, but could not trace her. Inquiries from his mother-in-law, Mrs Cross, elicited no satisfaction but she had thrown a kettle-ful of hot water over him and attacked him with a fire-shovel. Deceased was under the impression that his wife had deserted him and asked witness if he could compel his wife to come back. Witness explained that this was impossible but advised deceased not to worry as a reconciliation might be effected. The police then traced Mrs Condon to Dunedin and in the meantime deceased’s death occurred. The wife returned to Invercargill immediately. It was evident that deceased’s wife bad followed him to Dunedin where he was looking for work and they had evidently missed one another. Condon was a returned soldier and his previous record showed that the only disability he suffered from while on service was an attack of bronchitis. Georgina Condon, wife of the deceased, said they had decided to sell the furniture and move to Dunedin. She had been in Mrs Cross’s house when the latter had thrown water over her husband. Mrs Cross had also prevented her from speaking to her husband. She was considerably upset and witness had to put her on a couch to recover. When Condon had gone to Dunedin witness had been on the best of terms with him. The trouble was purely imaginary. The Coroner returned a verdict of suicide while in a state of mental depression. FREDERICK OSCAR MALLERSTATT. An inquest was held on the death of Frederick Oscar Leopold Mallerstatt, who died in the Southland Hospital at 5 p.m. on April 19. Annie Louise Mallerstatt, mother of the deceased, said that he had always been delicate and had been attended by Dr Barclay. He was 18 years of age and employed at a confectionery factory. He was ill on the Saturday before Easter and was removed to the Hospital a week later. Dr Owen Johnston, Medical Superintendent of the Southland Hospital, said deceased was admitted to the Hospital on April 17. He was suffering from mental trouble and was weak from refusing to eat. At times he had to be forcibly fed. He was committed to a mental hospital by a signed certificate, but on April 11 he was too weak to be moved, and after that he I gradually sank and died. The cause of death was his mental condition and secondary hypostatic pneumonia. The Coroner returned a verdict of death due to dementia and secondary hypostatic pneumonia.