DOCTOR TOOK HIS LIFE

Chronicle (Levin), 11 August 1949, Page 6

DOCTOR TOOK HIS LIFE

Press Association)

- Jealousy Led To Suicide

(Per

AUCKLAND, August 10. , A verdiet of suicide by nembutai poisoning was returned by the Coroner, Mr A. Addison, at the conclusion of the adjourned inquest into the death of Dr Raeburn Neil Campbell, aged 45, of Symonds Street, Onehunga. Dr Campbell was found unconscious in his surgery on the night of May 14 and died while receiving medieal attention. Mrs Ellen Glanlield, of Remuera, said she had known deceased for about four years. They had been quite friendiy for about nine months before his death. They had no quarrels during that time but he seemed moody and temperamental but ' very likeable. ' ' At times he used to become very depressed aua threatened to take his own life." Witness said that on one occasion he telephoned her to say he was going to take his life and witness went to his surgery. After she had talked to him he brightened up. ' ' That was only one occasion when he threatened to take his own life," she said. "He did it so often that 1 becanie tired of it. In the finish I got to the stage where I treated it ftfe a joke. He did. it so often that I decided he only wanted rny sympathy." Witness said deceased told her he used to take nembutai to make him sleep.. On May 14 she met deceased, but not by appointment, at the trots at Alexandra Park. He said: "1 am engaged. "I said: 'Good luck to you Rae and the very best.' " witness continued. "He appeared to be livid with rage. I told the lady friend with me to congratulate him as he was engaged. He then &aid ' I am not,; and walked away." Witness said she later told deceased he had been invited to go to the flat .of Mr and Mrs Rose where she had also been invited. That evening about 8 p.m. slie recognised the horn bf deceased 's car sopnded outside and went to the gate. She invited deceased inside for a drink and Mr and Mrs Rose and a Mi Grieves were in the flat. Mr Rose then went out and invited deceased inside. Mr Rose, Mr Grieves and deceased then had a drink after vvhich deceased went in response to a call from outside. Shortly afterward witness weni out the front door of the flat and saw deceased. He said something to the effect that she had Grieves in the flat and then struek' her in the face with his . list. She remembered striking her heao , on the corner of the brick chimney anu falling to the ground. As the resuit oi her injuries she was in hospital foi s'ome davs. " Campbell did not say anything before he hit me other than something about my having Grieves in tlie flat," she said. "Campbell often gavt indications of being very jeaious al- - though there was absolutely no reason whv he should be jeaious of (irieves. He s gave me the impression that he resentea s Grieves being there that night."

Lawrence Milton Goldsnnd Grieves, conipany manager, of Pahiatua, said ht was staying with M-r and Mrs Rose on May 14. Deceased, whom he already knew, came in that night and the three men present had a drink. Deceased then left saying he had to go to his surgery but tliree or four minntes later he returned and witness saw Mrs Glanfield go outside. He then saw her retum with blood streaming down the side oi her face. "I ran outside to see if 1 could find Campbell but he had gone," witness said. Campbell returned shortly afterward. Witness called out: "Is that you, Campbell?" . Deceased said: "Yes, what is the * pi attGr f ' ' Witness said: "You have damn near killed this girl. A man ought to get

stnek into you." "With that Campbell struck me on thq»f ace with his fist, ' ' witness continued. "We fought for three or fo'ur minutes. We exchanged blows freely. The next-door neighbour then eame and separated us. " After medieal evidenee regarding the drug taken by deceased, Deteetive-ider-geant Sharp said he had no reason to suppose that deceased ha'd been the vietim of foul play. "I think it is perfeetly clear that this tragedy commenced with a quarrei, such as it may be called, between deceased and Mrs Glanfield," the Coroner said. "Then there was- the assault and fight and probably a feeling on the1 part of deceased that he had got into such a desperate position that the only thing left was to take- his own life. I think it is quite clear that it was selfadminister^d. ' '