LYTTELTON NEWS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16988, 10 November 1920, Page 11

LYTTELTON NEWS.

* MAGISTRATE'S COURT. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday. ssiore Messrs F. G. Xort-on and C. Ferri-er, J.l'.'s. 1 Robert Tandy, a. seaman, was f.ned in I default one month's imprisonment, for ■ob°ceno iar.suace in tin? bar oi the Mitre 1 Hotel. ~ , . I One first offender, :or wjs convicted ar.d discharged. | THE PICTURES. "Tho Walk Offs." starri:-.? May Allison, -.vii! t,e repeated a* the Harbour Lisrht Pictures tonight, together with the firs; episode 0 f ti. e »erial, "Tho Great Gamble." Tomorrow. "It Pays to Advertise.'' p. comedydrnma of business life, fc.iruvincr Brynrt | \V;i ill'burr.. -vi!l ho screech, the, iuppoits iuI ciudin'o' a scenic and a gazette.. j WORKEIi!:' HOMES. ! There is ever,- prospect of the Govern:;-.e-it 1 building workers' iiomt-s in I«-.t ;.*jtou in i..c noar future. A Government official is. in tho port this week for the purpose of inspectin-.' suituii-ble sites at Diamond Harbour and other places. Pi is stated that the Government CO "template building fifty homes, providing that a suitable block of land can be acquired. | SUICIDE. I ra iiway eosual worker, named James Scott-, v.'ho resided at Uii<Jlo Path load, T.yttelton, was found dead with his throat cut in an outhouse at his residence early yesterday hiornih'-'. Deceased had strained himselfpome four months ago, and had only started work a oral ii last week. He leaves a widow and seven children, the youngest hcing six venrs old. Mr S. Ii- McCarthy. Coroner, hckl nn inquest- the Lyttelton morgue yesterday afternoon. , I Dr. C. H. 1 r>ham pave cv!d?nre that nn had known deceased for niaiiv ye«ra. In ! Jnlv lz3t deceased had strained Jii* Vnck whilst working oil the wharf, .and had consulted witness on several occasions. Recently ho appeared to be much harassed wy the Railway Department him to resum-'. dutv at once. "Witness pave him a. iettor to tbo Department fitatin? that liv •>va-= unfit (or duty. Deceased told witness thatthe Department had notified him that as ho ' had been workinpr in his garden he should ..e fit to resume duty. In the letter w' witness wrote to the Department witness stated that work in the '/ardeu would b-> beiieficial to deceased. "Witness h.ad ctil.eJ Dr. Gilmour into consultation oyer Scott a ease, »nd Dr. Gilmour agreed with witness that deceased was Buffering- from neurasthenia, a form of nervous disease. Deceased again consulted witness, and told him that tho Railway Department were insisting on him being examined by the Departments Assessor, Dr. Pairman. Witness stronsrly advised deceased to see Dr. Pairman, who must apree with wit\iess and Dr. Gilmour. Deceased still consulted witness frequently, ar.d was evidently tormented by the fear that In would liaw to refund the half-pay wluch lie had been receiving from the Railway Department. He still liesita.ted between whether to pee Dr. Pairman or return to duty. He decided to resume work, and witness promised to see the stationmaster about him. Throughout this period deceased had shown what wa« eailed "anxiety -neurosis," a. complaint which had appeared during the war. "Witness was quite satisfied that deceased was not u malingerer. Ho showed no suiciaal tendencies, and was a. nuin of sober habit?. Kliis Win. Jeffreys, step-son of dccea?e:l, said that he had last seen deceased about 10 o'clock the previous night. He then appeared aiorm-al. Ho had been very depiessed since his accident. "Witness found the body in an outhouse .shortly after five o'clock that morning-. . "William A. Miller, foreman flicvedove, fnid that he had had a conversation with deceased recently. Scott seemed verv- r'-oress-ed and tinsi-ous to get back to work. H? 'old witness that he had fits of depression vious to the accident he was of a, cheerful disoosition. Percy C. Sluvler. late secretary of the Railway Casual' Workers' Union, said that three weeks ago deceased had come into witness's office. Ho was very much upset over the Railwav Department having- ceased to pay him his half-weeklv pay under the Workers' Compensation Act. Ho seemed to b» under the impression that certain railway officials had accused him of malingering. He told witness that he had been notified that unless he visited Dr. Pairman the Department -would not -make any further payments. Witness adviaccl him to see Dr. Pairman, as he had nothing to fenr. and if Dr. Pairman disagreed with Drs. Upham and Gilmour the '.Union would fight the ense. Ho led to believe that he would' follow out tins advice. There were no railway officials nresont when this conversation took place. Witness saw deceased again on Fr;dav last. He was wry depressed. Witness said, "Whv not eo and see Dr. Pairman 10-dav?' Deceased toplied, "If I do they may have ,a policeman, there' to arrest me." Witness told him not to talk foolishly, and asked Scott his reason for making the statement. He said, "Por getting money under false pretences." _ Ho would"say no more, but walked about m an agitated- "manner.