VERDICT OF SUICIDE.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17804, 31 August 1929, Page 8

VERDICT OF SUICIDE.

DEATH OF A WOMAN. EFFECTS OF GAS-POISONING. CORONER CRITICISES DELAY. “While it makes little difference in this case, I feel it my duty to remark on the delay in having a doctor called and the body examined,” said the coroner, Mr Wyvern Wilson, at the inquest last evening into the circumstances surrounding the death of Louisa Rayson, aged 61, who was found dead at her home, Commerce Street, Frankton, on Thursday evening. A formal verdict that deceased committed .suicide by gas-poisoning was returned. Cyril George Douglas Gordon Rayson, aged 18, deposed that his father, who was away on Thursday, returned to Hamilton at noon yesterday. Mr Rayson had been away to Helensville for about a week to regain his health. His mother, who was a cripple, w r as usually of a cheerful disposition. She suffered from her legs occasionally. He saw her at lunch-time on Thursday, when she appeared quite bright. He had never heard her speak of taking her life. Between 5 and 5.30 p.m. he returned from work and found the back door locked. As the front door was locked on the inside he obtained access to the house through a window and smelled gas strongly when he got inside. He found his mother dead before tha kitchen range. He immediately informed the police, in company with his sister and brother-in-law, Mr Oxenham. Evidence of identification was given by George Alfred Rayson, retired railway inspector, husband of deceased. He stated that his wife had lost a leg 28 years ago. Last week he received a letter from his wife, who appeared to be in good spirits. She was, however, .worrying over the health of a friend in Wanganui. He could not account in any way for her action. Dr. A. G. Waddell testified that life was extinct when he arrived at the house at 6.25 p.m. Deceased had been dead about 14 hours. He thought that gas-poisoning was the cause of her death. Sergeant Stark stated that he was called at 6.10 p.m., when he examined the body and ’phoned for the doctor. The Coroner, after remarking on the fact that no attempt had been made to turn the gas off and open the windows and that there had been a delay in informing a doctor, returned a formal verdict.