THE RECENT SUICIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 288, 8 May 1914, Page 2

THE RECENT SUICIDE.

"TEMPORARILY INSANE."

The enquiry into tile circumstances surrounding the death of Spencer Griffiths, of New Plymouth, was concluded yesterday before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., District Coroner.

Horace Victor Griffiths, of New Plymouth, ar«hitect, a brother 'of the deceased, deposed that on Tuesday last he saw deceased between !) and 10 a.m. at his brother's shop, and arranged to meet deceased at 5 p.m. and take him home to tea. Deceased did not keep this appointment. In consequence of what his partner told him, witness made a search on his office table, and found a note from the deceased (produced), which read, "Don't wait for me at tea, you will find me on the Esplanade. Goodbye." He and his brother George then mafle a search on the Ksplanadc and found d'eceased as previously described. Deceased hud seemed strange and restless for some.days prior to his decease. On I one occasisn deceased had referred to "six columns in the newspapers all about me,' and on being questioned had pointed to the news concerning General Sir lan Hamilton. He was oil several occasions under the impression that the newspapers contained veiled insinuations against him, generally in connec- ; tion with Sir lan Hamilton. On the. previous occasions, before he was committed to the mental hospital, he had referred to "the voices which were calling him." Dr. E. A. Walker, of New Plymouth, deposed that on the evening of May 5 he went to the Baths and founil deceased on his face on a table in Mr. Morris' front room. Mr. Morris and two constables were rendering first aid. Deceased presented the symptoms of cor-' rosive poisoning of a grave type and was obviously in danger of dying from respiratory paralysis. Ilis breath had a strong creosol odor and chin and neck were burned by the action of the corrosive. In spite of all usual methods of j restoration, deceased died before 7 p.m. Death was due to respiratory paralysis. Henry McKenzie Smith, of New Plymouth, chemist's assistant, in the employ of W. Fraser, deposed that he knew deceased vqry slightly. On Tuesday last at 12.0 p.m., deceased came into the shop and purchased a bottle of poison Witness asked deceased what lie was going to use it for, and deceased did not seem inclined to say. Witness insisted on knowing and deceased then said that lie used a few drops in water for washing his hands and other toilet uses. Witness told deceased that he must bring a witness, which deceased did, and the sale, was registered in tlie poisons book.

A verdict was returned that deceased met his death by taking poison while temporarily of unsound mind.