“I’M GOING WEST”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 357, 18 May 1928, Page 12

“I’M GOING WEST”

TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO FRIEND WIDOWER S SUICIDE (Special to THE SUN) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. “I am going west. Thank you for all you have done for me,” said Robert Dorrans, a widower, over the telephone to a friend yesterday afternoon. He then rang off. About 20 minutes later the friend re* ceived another telephone ring, this time from the keeper of the lodginghouse in which Dorrans lived. The friend hurried to the house and at th 9 bathroom door met Dorrans, who filled himself a glass of water, drank it and walked into his bedroom. He lay down calmly on his bed and said to his amazed friend: “Good-bye; thank you for all you have done.” The friend though Dorrans was shamming, but ho went to sleep. Medical aid was summoned, but Dorrans died at 4 p.m. Evidence at the inquest showed tnai Dorrans had procured the poison in perfectly legal manner by doctor’s prescription at a chezoxsts shop. The medicine was not dangerous if taken as prescribed, but deceased hcid evidently obtained several bottie| and had, it was believed, taken foi* at A° verdict was returned that DorraM committed suicide by taking a® dose of poison while in a state of ex treme mental depression.