Woman’s Sad End.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1921, Page 4

Woman’s Sad End.

MORPHIA AND DELUSIONS. HOSPITAL MATRON’S END. MASTERTON, June 14. Mr E. G. Eton, district coroner, held an inquest at Grey town on the body of Mary Lindsay, matron of the Greytown Hospital, who committed suicide by hanging herself. ■ Eva Wallace, a member of the Greytown Hospital staff, stated that it was .arranged that the matron be placed under supervision as the result of her condition. On the morning of June Bth she was talking to the matron, who appeared very depressed and full of remorse for what had happened before. Deceased asked for permission to go to the lavatory. Witness saw the matron return to her room after an absence of one minute. Mrs Jamieson, deceased’s aunt, was sitting beside the bed. Witiipss did not return to the room until fifteen minutes later, thinking the matron was with her aunt. She then ascertained that the woman was miss-

mg. John Lindsay, father of the deceased, stated that lie was not surprised when ho received word that his daughter was missing as he had an idea that she was mentally deranged and anticipated something of the kind. William J. Reid said lie was medical superintendent at the hospital. Before the matron went away for her holiday she appeared to he run down. This was about the end of March. She was away for five weeks. When she returned she appeared worse than when she left. She resumed duty for about a week, and during that period lie noticed that she was depressed. Further leave was granted her. She returned on May 31st. He could see no improvement in her condition, though she resumed her duties on June 3rd. Me was called in urgently to the hospital and found the matron in bed in an extremely collapsed condition. Her breath smelt of opium. He washed her stomach out, and the contents had a very strong smell of opium. He injected restoratives and commenced artificial respiration. Ho was called at about 9 a.m. and she did not regain consciousness until 4 o’clock. He then gave instructions that she should lie placed under control. Upon making inquiries he heard that she had taken opium from the dispensary. Later, she had attacks of delusions. She thought she heard people outside calling her to go away with them. On June (ith it was reported to him that she had got to the dispensary cupboard and secured a box of morphia. Her mental state tl'.cn became worse, with short periods of sanity. Death was due to strangulation.

After hearing other evidence the coroner returned a verdict of suicide chile mentally depressed.