SCHOOLMASTER'S SUICIDE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2806, 26 June 1916, Page 6

SCHOOLMASTER'S SUICIDE

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. By Telegraph—Press AMoe'ation. ■Christchurch, June 2-1. James Edward Granville, ag«l 44, a school teacher, residing at Barbadoes Street, St. Albans, who had been sufforing for some time from neurasthenia, and who had been under treatment at. the Papanui Sanatorium, cut his throat yesterday and died later in the hospital. At the inquest this afternoon Gustav Arthur Brandstater, a trained ihale nurse, deposed that he was in charge <:i the sanatorium institution, and took all classes of patients. Deceased applied on Monday for admittance as a patient, and Dr. Orchard, his physician, concurred. Witness treated him with electric baths and massage. Dr. Orchard came up and entered deceased's namo on the sanatorium register as suffering from neurasthenia. Deceased showed no signs of wishing to commit snioide, and had he done so; witness would not have admitted him. Witness thought he discovered traces of riiental weakness in deceased, but ho was reassured by a conversation with deceased and tho assurance of Dr. Orchard, and put down the peculiarities as due to deceased's deafness. The sanatorium belonged to the Seventh Day xldventists. It was a vegetarian institution, and they used no stimulants. "I shall report this to the Inspector of Hospitals, and I warn you that you are taking a great risk in taking these neurasthenic patients. Are yon licensed?" asked Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., the Coroner. ■ . . "Yes," said witness. "You may get your license cancelled. However, you are quite safe. You asked, for the doctor's advice, and acted on_ it, hut still you are running a great risk: Doctors may send patients there simply ; to please their friends." A verdict was recorded of suicide while in a state of nnfound mind.