CITY EDITION. PUBLISHED AT 5 P.M. OLD WOMAN'S DEATH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10767, 13 May 1913, Page 3

CITY EDITION. PUBLISHED AT 5 P.M. OLD WOMAN'S DEATH.

CUTS HER ARMS WITH RAZOR. DIES FROM SHOCK. Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., this afternoon opened au inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death or Anna West, aged seventy-two, of 141, Caledonian Road, who die-d at the Hospital yesterday as a result of wounds self-inflicted with a razor on the same day. Edward West, a .life insurance agent, said that Anna West was his mother. She was a widow, and had been living with him for many years. On Monday morning, when lie left home, Ids mother seoxned in her usual spirits. The cold weather had confined her to her room for the past fortnight, and during that time her speech was often incoherent. When he returned his mother was in bed. There was a cut on her left arm. The wound was bleeding, and lie bandaged the arm as well as he coukl until the doctor arrived. The wound had been inflicted by his razor, which she must have taken. j Dr Edward W. Sinclair said that! Anna West was admitted to the Hospital at 2 p.m. yesterday. She was weak, and collapsed. The wounds were on the front of the left elbow and the wrist. The artery in the wrist was visible, but was not cut. She had not. lost much blood, and tho wound would not hnve proved fatal in a young person. Stimulants were txiven, but she did not revive, and diet I just before 6 p.m. Death was duo to general weakness accelerated by shock duo to the wounds". Christina West, wife of Edward West, said that yesterday morning her husband's mother had tried to get out of bed. but had boen stopped. The dec-eased, however, later went out again with a few clothes on. About an hour later witness heard groans, and on goins out found the deceased lying on the grass with n severe wound in her left arm. She carried the old woman in and called in medical assistance. Th" deceased was a smoker, and previously she had sustained heavy wounds in falls due to giddiness. She did not attempt to bandasjo the wounds. The Coroner's verdict was that death was due to weakness accelerated by pl-ock mused by wounds inflicted by the deceased while temporarily insane.