VERDICT OF SUICIDE

Southland Times, Issue 21848, 27 October 1932, Page 5

VERDICT OF SUICIDE

INQUEST ON MR G. C. BLACK, M.P. DEATH BY POISONING. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, October 26. An inquest was held by Mr McNeil, Coroner, concerning the death of Mr G. C. Black, M.P. After hearing the evidence of the taxi driver who drove the deceased to Makara and other witnesses who had been in close contact with Mr Black shortly before his death, Mr McNeil said it was quite apparent the deceased was not in a normal state of mind at the time he met his death by his own hand, nor had he been for some time. His actions, according to those who knew him well, clearly showed that, and in addition there was the fact that during the last few months he had been a voluntary patient in a mental hospital. That alone was sufficient to account for the death of deceased, who was also worried financially. There was no doubt the condition of his mind, together with the accumulated worries of his own and possibly the responsibility of the office he held caused him to take his own life. A verdict was returned accordingly. The medical evidence was that deceased died from the effect of poisoning self-administered while he was mentally unbalanced.