WOMAN’S EFFORTS TO END HER LIFE

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 December 1950, Page 6

WOMAN’S EFFORTS TO END HER LIFE

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA).— Evidence of how a woman made two unsuccessful attempts to commit suicide by throwing herself in front of cars, and then was found down a well, was given at an inquest concluded by the coroner (Mr. A. Addison) today. The inquest concerned the death of Mrs. Ivy Elizabeth McRae, aged 47, at Whenuapai, on November 13.

William Edward Gibbs, clerk, told the coroner that he noticed Mrs McRae while driving along Remuera Road on the morning of November 13. He said she had a dressing gown on, and was standing by the kerb. She began to move out on to the roadway, and when he was about 15 feet away from her she threw herself under the wheels. He braked hard and the carl came to rest about one foot from her body. Witness helped her to her feet and watched her walk across to the other side of the road. He watched while another vehicle came up the road from the other direction, and saw her throw herself in front of the wheels. The vehicle stopped in time, and witness again went to her assistance. He could see she was ill, and asked her if he could help. She seemed, to recover, and gave him an address. He put her into a taxi, and told the driver to go to that address. Mrs. Catherine Ruth Stent said she was a sister of Mrs. Mcßae. On the same morning, November 13, her sister came to her house and said she had “come out of hospital.” Witness took that to mean she had been discharged. Witness took her to her home at Whenuapai in a taxi. While at Whenuapai, Mrs. Mcßae disappeared, and was found later in a well by her son. "I have no doubt that this unfortunate woman intended to throw herself in the well,” said Mr. Addison. The singular thing is that she did not succeed in drowning herself, and the medical report says that death was firstly due to a toxic goitre and f at death was brought on by sudden immersion in the cold water.”