GIRL'S SUICIDE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 98, 12 May 1937, Page 13

GIRL'S SUICIDE

-Press Acsoeiation.l

Verdict of4 Mental Breakdown EMPLOYER'S STATEMENT

fBv Telesraph-

OHBISTOHUECH, Last Night. A yerdict of suicide in a time of mental breakdown was returned at the inquest which investigated the death from a bullet wonnd of Josephine Helen McPherson, aged 23, a city typist. The eyidence showed that the gjri had bought a rifle in a city. shop and had it delivered to the office where she worked on April 30. She left the ofiice late in the afternoon and went home ill. She did not tell her parents of the shooting until the early hours of the next morning and was finally taken to the Christchurch Public Hospital, where she died. The xifie, with one euipty cartridge ahell in it, was fonnd in a cubicle at the rear of the girl's office. The Ooroner, Mr E. C. Levvey, returned a verdict that she committed suicide by shooting herself with a .22 calibre rifle, the act being committed while she was in a state of mental breakdown, Before any witnesses were called, Mr D. W. Russell addressed the Ooroner, stating that he was appearing on behalf of Mr J. K. Moloney, the girl's employer, although there was no aeeessity t.o wateh his elient's interests in the hearing as the evidenee itself would demonstrate. One point eoneerning his client should be cleared up. A looal aewSpaper account, published on the day the girl died, falsely and untruthfully stated that Moloney had refused to make any statement. That was entirely untrue, Mr Moloney 's statement was actually given to the police before then. The report had been telegraphed throughout the Dominion and to those who, did not know Mr Moloney it had done incaleulable harxn. Those who knew his ciient, a well-known and much esteemed citizen, worddgive no credenee to a report giving the impression that h# would not help the police ih such a tragie and unfo'rtunate affair. Chief Detective H. W. Dunlop said he agreed with what Mr Bussell had said. Mr Moloney had given the police the fullest co-operation and had made very full statements on two oceasions, The police had requested him to say nothing 1 publicly until all the facts in ihe case had been garnered, and this had been miBconstrued entirely. Dr. Roberfc Frescheville Bakewell, of Sumner, William McPherson, the girl's father, Franees May McPherson, the girl's mother, and John Keith Moloney^ solieitor, the girl's employer, gave evidenee. David Murray, an arms marchant, oi ■ 269 Manchester street, said that he Bold the rifle produced in Court to the girl. Constable J. R. Hart said that he had issned a permit for the rifle frojn the Arms "Office and that the gM had saidshe was going rabbit-shootjng with a friend. There had been nothing in her demeanour to show that she was not normal.