YOUNG WOMAN’S DEATH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18817, 4 March 1931, Page 7

YOUNG WOMAN’S DEATH.

FIREMAN REPROVED. By Telesraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, March 3. Failure on the part of a fire brigadesman to remonstrate with a young woman who came up to him in the street and asked him where the deepest water in the harbour was, was the subject of comment by Mr I. Salek. Coroner, at an inquest into the death of Ruby Mabel Small, whose body was found in the harbour off Clyde Quay, on February 21st. A verdict was returned that deceased drowned herself as a result of being mentally depressed through illness. Percy Collis, a fireman, said that on the evening of February 20th. in company with other firemen, he was standing outside the Central Station, when a young woman came up and asked where the deepest water was. She appeared hysterical and nervous. Witness did not answer her, but one of his companions told her not to be silly. The Coroner: “Did it not strike you that you should have tried to restrain her?"—Witness: “I did not think anything at the time.” The Coroner: “I can’t understand it. It was most callous indeed not to restrain her. Don’t you realise that if you men had remonstrated with this woman you could possibly have prevented her from drowning herself?”— No reply. Frederick Small, father of deceased, in a statement which was read, said his daughter had been employed as a tailoress. He last saw her about four months ago, when she paid a visit to her home at Shannon after a serious operation. Her nerves were very bad. Vera Grace Cunningham, matron of the Y.W.C.A. Hostel, said Miss Small had been living at the hostel for about two years. On the evening of February 20th, she appeared quite well. She had been in bad health and frequently depressed. Lately, however, she appeared more cheerful.