MARRIED WOMAN’S END.

Wairarapa Age, 15 August 1928, Page 4

MARRIED WOMAN’S END.

SUICIDE WHILE MENTALLY 1 DEPRESSED EVIDENCE AT INQUEST An inquest was held yesterday befor the District Coroner, Mr. E. G. Eton, concerning the death of Gertrude Hilda Roberts, a married woman, who was found dead on Monday afternoon in the washhouse of her residence, 3 Kuripuni Street, Masterton, with her head in a gas oven and the gas turned on. Dr. N. H. Prior gave evidence as to proceeding to the house on Monday afternoon in response to a telephone message. He found Mrs Roberts lying dead on the floor of the washhouse. The body was near the gas oven, the door of which was open. There were slight abrasions on the skin of the neck, which might have been made by a rope, and a little blood on her chest and right hand. This had come from- a wound on. the right side of her head, where there was a partial fracture of the skull, which might have been caused by a fall. In witness’s- opinion deceased had died from gas poisoning by lying with her head in the oven and l turning the gas full on. The marks on deceased’s neck had probably been mad© by a rope, and in his opinion deceased had previously attempted to hang herself, and the wound on tho head had been caused by her fall on the concrete floor of the woodshed when the rope broke. Witness had attended deceased several times this year. She had been in ill-health during tho past six months. He saw her two or throe weeks ago, when she seemed rather depressed.

Const-able Ellis, who'accompanied the doctor to the house, gave corroborative evidence. Evidence was given by the deceased's twelve-year-old' daughter a” to finding her mother in the washhouse, with her head inside the gas stove and the gas turned on. Witness stated that her mother seemed to be worried on Monday and at lunch time she had said that she was 1 not very well and had a headache. Mrs Annie Cornick, of 8 Kuripuni Street, stated that in response to the daughter’s request she ran to the deceased’s house and found Mrs Roberts on the floor. The deceased had told witness that she had not be cm sleeping and that she had no appetite. The deceased was not very bright lately and was obviously suffering from the effects of influenza.

Charles Roberts, plumber, said he resided at No. 3 Kuripuni Street with his wife and two children. His wife had not been well for the past three or four months, but more particularly during the past six weeks. On Monday she complained of having a headache, and said she had not slept well the night Witness left home about a quarter to ten and went to Carterton, intending to get some brandy, which ho thought would do both himself and his wife good. He returned from Carterton at about 5 p.m. When he left home, his wife, said “good-bye” and they parted good friends as usual. They always lived happily. Ho could not think of any cause for his wife’s act. Witness had 'good employment, and they had no financial worry.

Constable Smith corroborated the evidence given by Constable Ellis and Dr. Prior. Witness and the doctor came to the conclusion that deceased had stood upon a heap of firewood, placed a rope over a nail on the rafter, and attempted to hang herself. The rope had broken, and she fell on the concrete, fracturing her skull. She then walked to the washhouse, where the gas oven was. Witness had known Mr. Roberts for the past six years, and ho was a sober, steady man.

The Coroner found that deceased camo by her death from the effects of gas poisoning, deceased having previously attempted to hang herself, while mentally depressed.