A SALESMAN'S SUICIDE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 86, 6 January 1919, Page 3

A SALESMAN'S SUICIDE

DEPRESSION THROUGH INFLUENZA An inquest was held by the coroner, Mr. W. G. Itiddell, S.M., on Saturday morning, touching the death of Arthur M'Aulay, a single man, thirty-five yeara of age, who died at the hospital on Friday as the result of cutting his throat with a razor. Senior-Sergeant Willis, attended the inquest on of the police. Evidence was given by Dr. Colvm. house "Vurgeon at Wellington Hospital, that deceased was admitted to the institution at 2.30 a.m. on Friday. The wound in his throat was three inches long, and three-quarters of an inch deip. Deceased was in a very weak condition, and restorative measures were taken. An operation was performed at-D.15 a.m. • for the purpose of suturing the wound in the neck and securing the blood vessels. Ether wa/3 tho anaesthetic used for the operation, in the first part of whioh deceased was quiet. The operation was almost completed when it was noticed that deceased's pulse and breathing stopped. Every effort was made to bring, him round, but "lie did not rally. Death was due to collapse and cardiac failure, following the haemorrhage from the neck. Ernest Cecil Heald, manager for E. C. Browno and Co., Willis Street, stated that he knew deceased, who was a land salesman employed by Bethune nnd Co. For twelve months he had been in camp, and had held the rank of sergeant-major iin the Thirty-ninth Mounted Reinforcements at Featherston. Prior to his discharge he had r bad attack of influenza, and his manner setuned very peculiar of late. ,He appeared to be very depressed, and on January 2 his friends were advised /by Dr. Clay that lie should be taken away and given certain treatment, with a view of ■ restoring his mental faculties. As a result it had been intended that lie should go away for a change of scene. Oh Thursday night Mrs. Hall, of 28 Talavera Terrace, where deceased resided, asked witness to remain in the house to look after M'Aulay. Prior to retiring about 11 p.m., they had gone to the pictures. About 1- a.m. tho inmates of the house were disturbed by deceased, and Miss Hall went to his room,' where she found him writing. He said he was writing to his sister. Witness got up, and went along to deeased's room, as he was growing suspicious of the latter's actions. M'Aulay, who was in his dressingigown, seemed very calm, and was smuking a cigarette. Ife asked witness what he was doing, and the latter replied that he was going tc the bathroom. A-few minutes afterwards de-ceased-went outside, and witness followed him. He found that deceased's throat was cut, and that he hnd a razor in his right hand. Witness immediately summoned the police, and Dr. Henry, who ordered the man's removal to the hospital. ' .

■ Constable Harrison gnvo evidence as to taking deceased to the hospital. ' A verdict waa "returned that deceased died from collapse during an operation, and cardiac failure following haemorrhage from wound in the neck, self-inflict-, ed while he was mentally depressed.