FATAL FALL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20098, 3 May 1935, Page 6

FATAL FALL

HOSPITAL PATIENT’S DEATH EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, May 2. Left alone for a few moments about 1.15 p.m. on April 6 in the room she occupied at the Wellington Hospital,. Sarah Ellen Marks, 31, married, either jumped or fell from a third storey window and suffered injuries which caused death. The Coroner, Mr E. Gilbertson, held an inquest to-day. Dr J, F. Williams, a mental specialist, stated that he did not regard her as having suicidal tendencies or as having sufficient determination to commit suicide. Dr G. B. Cowie said Mrs Marks was suffering from an enlarged thyroid gland with toxic symptoms. An operation which was to be performed would have cured her. She was removed to a room specially chosen for its quietness and pleasant surroundings and had a convalescent patient to keep her company. She had been six weeks in hospital and never showed any suicidal tendencies. The happening was a pure accident and could not have been anticipated. Sub-Inspector Roach (for the police): You were aware that this woman on one occasion got up to the window and expressed herself desirous of jumping out of it. Dr Cowie indicated that he knew nothing of this till after the woman had jumped out, and said that had the matter been mentioned to him he would have thought that increased supervision would have been required.

Doctor T. D. M. Stout said that the desire to commit suicide might have been only a temporary one. If it had been permanent he thought she would have shown very definite evidence of it in the way she talked.

Dr Thorne, medical' superintendent, said that there were always patients who had to have extra supervision and there had never been any difficulty in getting it. Dr Sutherland, of the hospital staff, agreed with the previous witness that the placing of wire netting or bars over the windows would only irritate patients. Mary Grace Tonkin, the only other patient in the room, said Mrs Marks had never threatened to commit suicide. Nurse Loach said that she left the room and a minute or two later heard the window slide open and was informed that Mrs Marks had disappeared. Witness said that Mrs Marks appeared to be worried over domestic troubles, but had never threatened to commit suicide. The Coroner announced that he would deliver his verdict on Tuesday.