WOMAN'S DEATH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 559, 16 June 1933, Page 5

WOMAN'S DEATH

VERDiCT ©F SUICIDE b'urNed' herSelf whiLSt IN DEPRESSED STATE OF MIND" DISTRESSIN'G ROTORUA CASE The iriquest ariio the eireumstarices suiTounding the death at JKing George V. Hospital of Mrs. jvy Plorence Mqmo, on June 10, wa*? cqncluded before ilie eqrbiier, Mr. W. L. Ricli|rds, at tHe Rdtorua Ma,gistra'te's' Cdtlrt yesterday afte^rioQfi. ihe^eYiderice of tbe husband, Mr. F. T: MUrirq wa's taken at th'e operiing of ihe iriquest on Monday last. Doctor's Evidence Dr. S. H: Hay in his evidence .said that the deceased had suffered frp.m a- very unstabla nervous system 'aud he considered tjiat she had worried about her mot|er's death, and fiad hlamad berself for nqt notifying him of a charige "vyhicli * Had opcurred in fier motber.'s. eondition. Thi-s change bojtever, had baen a very,. trivial orie and had not been of gre'at consideraOn being callqd to the hpme of the decea'sed he fquaqd that she had severn burns about the 'hody, limbs and -head. She was conscious and told h'im that she had poured henzine over her nightdressj set alight io it and expected death to follow. He administered morp'hia tp her- and sup'ervised her removal to King^Geprge V. Hospital. He had .aittended the deceased pr of essiopally for about two yieiars but she had never prevuously stated a desire to take her own life. Harry Croker, a masseur, employed by tbp Tourist Dep'artmfsnt 'said that on the ,eafly morning of June 10 he had b'een* called by his brother-in-law, Mr. F. J. Muni-o, who told him fchat Mrs. Munro had burnt herself. When he anjived be foi^nd Mrs. Munro Lying iri ithe fowlrun. Sbai ex7 pressed regret for the trouble she had'

caused and there was a smell of burriing pervading the place. On examination he fourid that sbe had been severely burned. She did not say at tihat time that she had deKberately poured the benzine ori herself but hy her statement of apology he concluded that heij action had been delihei'ate. She was wrapped in a rug. He had known the deceased for 15 years and she and her husband wer'e a most devoted couple. Deceased was of a very nervous condition but had never threatened to take her life. Being most devoted to her mother she had b'een very dep'ressed foilowinig her mother's death. Coroner's Finding In his finding the coroner said that he was satisfied that deceased met hsr death o,n the morning of June 10" from burns rece.ved when sba had saturated her clothing with henzine and deliher. ately set alight to herself. The depressed state of h'er health for some time prior to her death had apparently prompted her to take this extremely unfo'rtunate action.