DEAD IN A CREEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1927, Page 1

DEAD IN A CREEK.

[llY TELEGRAPH—rER fress association.] ASHBURTON. May 24. At the inquest on Philpott. his widow said the Christchurch Hospital authorities had committed him to Turangi Home, as he had had two strokes and was suffering from loss of memory. This resulted in childishness to such an extent that he could not be trusted hv liiin.J.df. Witness accompanied him to the Home, his condition being explained to the authorities there, lie,was not able to walk very far, as his legs had been paralysed for about IS months. Apart from his loss of memory, he was quite normal, and was quite happy and content when witness left him at the Home.

Tin' evidence showed that Philpotfc wns admitted to the Home on March lOlli. He whs evidently suffering from loss of meniory, mill whs very dull mournNy. He did not nnstvcr when spoken to, hut seemed happy. He was put to he'd, and was restless all night, having risen from hod and struck matches to peer into the face ot each inmate of the ward. The following morning he. was continually on the move, and wandered away from the Hospital twice, being brought hack from the garden and again Horn the road. At 1,1.30 a.m. it was found that lie was missing again. There was only a limited staff at the Home, and no one who ouuld he detailed tor special duty in such cases.

The (droner returned a verdict nl death by drowning, the deceased falling in. and being too weak to get out. Regarding the nature of the Tunvangi Nome as a place to incarcerate the deceased, the Coroner said: ‘T am not sntified that Philpott was committed to a proper place, considering the state he was in. as described by his wife; as it appears to me, from the evidence given by the Master and Matron of the Home, that there is no provision at the Home for looking after such cases. I would suggest. where such cases are committed to this, or in fact any place of detention. a full statement of the condition and anything that would enlighten those'in charge as to any peculiarities n patient had. should he forwarded with the Diitient. There was evidently no one af the Home who should have been in charge ol a case such as this, and no place to keep him when he got there. T don’t place any blame on the Master or Matron, but the authorities should have had some one to look after this man,” concluded the Coroner.