SUICIDE IN THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 44, 16 November 1920, Page 8

SUICIDE IN THE CITY

♦ — . DECEASED'S STRONG DELUSIONS;

An Inquest was hold by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday afternoon touching the death of Rubin Dobson, a tailor, aged 45 years, who was found dead at his homo yesterday morning with his throat cut. Deceased resided at 142 Willis Street. Lawrence Dobsun, son of deceased, doposed that his father, had spent the weekend at his whore at Pukerna, returning home early on Sunday evening. He mentioned that he felt unwell, but he partook of both his tea and supper. About 11 o clock one of the household summoned Dr. M'Evedy, who, after examining deceased, said there was nothing seriously wrong with him. He prescribed medicine, which deceased took, after which' tKo latter wont to bed. Ho complained, howevor, that he was unable to sleep. Several hours later witness's mother told him that his father had fal!en in the bedroom. (Jn going into the room witness found deceased with his throat cut. Witness averred that his father w.i 3 a tolal abstainer, had no business worries, nnd had hitherto enjoyed good health. Frederick Foothcad, plumber, a companion of deceased, said ho accompanied him to Pukcrua for the week-end. Witness noticed that deceased was rather quiet on the way out to the whare, and at, 3 o'clock on Sunday morning he awakened witness by calling "Fred! Fred! I have been poisoned with arsenic." In roply to a query from witness, deceased, who seemed to have recovered himself, soid ho must have been out of his senses, and that he now felt all right. Deceased then lay down for a while, and said he would go home. Later, at G o'clock in the evening, deceased startled witness by asking him to take a note of what ha had said as it was all true. He then cried, and asked to bo taken home. Witness added that deceased threatened to take a boat out and dive overboard, remarking at. tho same time that ho really thought he was going "off his head," and thnt he had had no sleep for some time. Witness, took deceased home and advised his wife to get a doctor as soon as possible. Constable Sargent gavo evidence as to removing the body of deceased, who wjih lying on an open razor, with his throat cut. , The Coroner found that death was duo to a wound self-inflicted whilst in a stnto of temporary insanity. ,