INQUEST RESUMED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3791, 5 August 1936, Page 4

INQUEST RESUMED

DEATH OF JOHN SNOWDON. STRANGULATION IN PRISON. The inquest Into the circumstances surrounding the death of John Snowdon on July 24th, while in custody to be later charged with being intoxicate ed while in charge of a motor car on the Great South Road five miles north ol Te Awamutu, was resumed this morning before Mr G. A. Empson, Coroner, at the local Courthouse. Mr J. M. Hine, of Te Kulti, represented the relatives of deceased. Constable Forsyth, in his evidence, said he visited the scene of a motoring collision soon after 8 a.nr., and decided that Snowdon, the driver of ope vehicle, was in a muddled condition, so he brought him to the police station. Snowdon said he would like a doctor, and Dr Hiskens soon arrived to examine him. As a result the doctor gave a certificate that lie was “of the opinion that the man has had sufficient alcohol to impair his judgment.” Snowdon was thereupon placed in the lock-up. He was visited at 10 a.m. and 11.15 a.m. At 12.15 p.m. witness visited the cell with some dinner for Snowdon, and found the man lying on the floor near the door. Witness thought he had fallen asleep, but then saw a handkerchief tied tightly round the throat. This was immediately released, but Snowdon had ceased to breathe. A doctor was called, reaching the lock-up within seven minutes, and he applied artificial respiration without avail. Constable Forsyth added that before placing him in the cell Snowdon was searched, and among the contents of his pockets that were removed was a large handkerchief. He did not notice a second one. Snowdon was minus his left hand. Witness had no reason to suspect suicidal tendencies. Snowdon's brother (who had been with him in the car) was informed at about 11.30 that John Snowdon would be charged at 4 p.m. To Mr Hine: Deceased’s demeanour throughout was quite mild, and had not been abusive. He was informed at the scene of the accident by the other motorist that deceased did not want the police called. Deceased did not speak when being brought in to Te Awamutu. Snowdon’s car had been tipped over by the impact of the collision. To the Coroner, Mr Hine said he hoped, from the evidence, that a rider would be added to the verdict. There was no apparent reason why Snowdon should take his life. He suggested that in “border line cases” such as this an arrested man should be kept under observation. Constable Forsyth said the regulations provide for a man in the lockup to be visited every two hours. In Snowdon’s case he was visited every hour, in the hope that he would be sober enough to come before the Court without undue delay. The brother did not ask to see John Snowdon. Dr Hiskens’ evidence confirmed the previous witness’ statements. Death was due to respiratory obstruction caused by the handkerchief. To Mr Hine: Snowdon’s re-action to the usual tests at about 8.50 o’clock showed slight delay in the co-ordina-tion tests. It was unlikely that the driving of 70 miles, and the shock, accelerated his high pulse rate. Possibly it was due to Snowdon having had liquor several hours earlier—prior to commencing the trip. To the Coroner: The examination convinced him that Snowdon had had sufficient alcohol to impair his judgment. Witness would not have sent his own family in a car driven by Snowdon. Witness’ examination was a' general one, and found nothing unusual apart from the liquor. Deceased did not complain of any injury in the accident. Constable Carseldlne gave corroborative evidence as to Snowdon’s condition at the police station. Robert Metcalfe, traffic inspector, said he reached the scene of the Collision at 8.30. Constable Forsyth was there, and witness saw Snowdon arrested. There was no further evidence, and Constable Forsyth expressed his sincere sympathy with the relatives of deceased. The Coroner concurred, and went on to say that the evidence was quite clear. Snowdon was still affected by liquor when arrested. The police had done the right thing in the interests of Snowdon and the public. The police were in no way to blame for the fatality. The verdict would be suicide by strangulation.