COMMENT BY CORONER
INQUEST ON DEATH OF WOMAN. WELLINGTON, .March 3. ihc failure on the part of a lire brigadesman to remonstrate with a young woman who came up to him in the street and asked where the 'deepest water in the harbour was, was a subject of comment by Mr I. Salek, Coroner, at an inquest on Ruby Mabel Small, whose body was found in the harbour off Clyde Quay on February 21. A verdict was returned that the deceased drowned herself as the result of being mentally depressed through illness. Percy Collis, a fireman, said that on the evening of February 20, in company with other firemen, lie was sumuing outside tho central station when a young woman came up anu askecl where the deepest water was. She appeared hysterical and nervous. Witness did not answer her, but one of his companions told her not to be silly.
j lie Coroner: Did it not strike you that you should have tried to restrain her ? Witness: I did Hot think anything at the time. The Coroner: t oaii’t, understand it. It was most callous indeed not to restrain her. Don’t you realise that if you men had remonstrated with this woman you could possibly have prevented her from drowning herself ? There was no reply. Frederick Small, father of deceased, in a statement which was read, said his daughter bad been employed as a tailoross. He last saw her about four months ago, when she paid a visit to her home at Shannon after a serious operation. Her nerves were very had. •Yerq Grace Cunningham, matron of the Y.W.C.A. Hostel, said Miss Small had been living at the hostel for about two years. On the evening of February 20 she appeared quite well. She bad been in bad ’health and frequently depressed. Lately, however, she had appeared more cheerful.
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Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1931, Page 2
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309COMMENT BY CORONER Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1931, Page 2
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