THE LATE MR TOM WOODARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 134, 28 November 1911, Page 6

THE LATE MR TOM WOODARD

THE INQUEST. An inquest ivas held yesterday morning before Mr, H. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., Coroner, regarding the death of the late Mr. Tom Woodard. Senior-Sergeant Dart conducted the enquiry, and Mr. A. H. Johnstone watched proceedings on. behalf of the relatives of the deceased.

Mr. D. S. Wylie, surgeon, deposed that on Friday afternoon, at about half-past two, he was called to Mr. Newton King's warehouse, Currio street. On arrival there he found the deceased lying unconscious in the top storey of the warehouse. He was suffering severely from shock, and was in a profound state of coma. Ho smelt strongly of an odor associated with Jeyes' fluid. Ho passed the stomach pump and extracted a considerabl quantity of almost pure Jeyes' fluid) from the stomach, which he washed thoroughly. His condition then improved sufficiently to allow of his removal to the New Plymouth hospital, where he rallied for a while, but never fully regained consciousness, dying about twenty minutes to 12 the same night. Close by his body in the warehouse an empty Jeyes' fluid bottle, recently opened, and also a cup, which had evidently, been used for drinking the fliud from, were found. Witness had no doubt that deceased came to his end through the effects of an overdose of Jeyes' fluid taken internally. All the circumstances of the case pointed to its having been seH-administercd. Deceased had been a patient of witness' for some three or four years. He could not say that deceased suffered from mental worry. He saw him the previous evening, when he seemed all right. He had undergone a slight operation to his knee some time ago, but had made a complete recovery. The bottle produced was alongside the body. It contained when full !>Yi ounces.,

To Mr. Johnstone: It was laid down as an axiom in the text-books that the greater the absence of motive in these cases the greater the presumption that there was present at the time a state of mental derangement amounting to temporary insanity. Win, Healy, in charge of 'Mr. Newton King's warehouse, Currie street, deposed that he knew the 'deceased, who had been a member of the staff for about eleven years. He came punctually to his work as usual on November 24. Defceasedrs luncheon hour was from 1 to 2, witness taking his luncheon hour from 12 to 1. Witness returned from luneheon on the date in question about 1 p.m.. when deecased was not there, •ad witness assumed that he had gone to lunch. About twenty minutes past -two it was reported to him that deceased was found upstairs, and he at once summoned 1 Mr, Wylie. Witness kept in the office a bottleof Jeyes' fluid simiar to. tho one produced. It was there prior to November 24, but was missing afterwards. A very small quantity had been previously iised for disinfecting purposes. When found afterwards it was empty. The cup produced was similar to those tlicy had in stock in the top storey. It was not usual for deceased to go up to the top storey. Deceased was not quite so bright that morning as he usually was.

Ralph Basil Simmons Renner, packer, employed in Xcwton King's Currie street warehouse, nave evidence that about 12.30 he heard someone moving upstairs. On going up to ascertain, he saw deceased sitting on a tin of biscuits some distance from the stairway. Witness said, "Oh, it's you, Tom," and deceased replied, "Yes, it's me, Ralph," Witness was within nine feet of deceased, but notice nothing unusual about him. Witness then returned downstairs. Did not at that time notice any cup or bottle.Witness was present when the empty ■Teyes' fluid bottle was found. It was on one of the shelves about three yards from where deceased was found. To Mr. Johnstone: When he saw deceased earlier in tho <tor he appeared to be in his usual frame of mind. Robert Kibby, assistant storeman at the warehouse, deposed that at about a quarter past two on the date in question he went up to the top floor and saw Mr. Woodard lying down on some paper bags. Witness said: "Hello, Tom! What are you doing here?" but deceased did not reply, although he held both hands up. Witness at once reported the matter to Mr. Healy.

The Coroner returned a verdict that Tom Woodard came to his death from the effects of an internal dose of Jeyes' fluid, apparently self-administered.

The funeral of the late Tom Woodard took place on Sunday morning. Although of a private nature, a large number of his fellow-employees and other friends followed the remains to the graveside. The principal members of Mr. Xewton King's staff acted as pall-bearers, and a beautiful lot of wreaths and other floral emblems were contributed by friends and sympathisers. Rev. John Wilkinson conducted the burial service.