DEATH OF MR. R. A. GRAY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 306, 22 June 1912, Page 6

DEATH OF MR. R. A. GRAY

I THE CORONER'S VERDICT. CONCLUSIVELY ACCIDENTAL. An inquest was held in the Courthouse yesterday morning into the circumstances of the death of Robert Alexander Gray, Government auditor for ( Taranaki, who was found dead on Thursday afternoon, about 20ft from the base of Paritutu. The District Coroner (Mr. A. Crooke, S.M.) presided, and Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared on behalf of tne deceased's relatives, while Mr. Frank Wilson watched the proceedings on behalf of the National Insurance Company. Evidence was given by W. P. Paul, driver of the Breakwater omnibus, to the effect that the late Mr. Gray was a passenger to Moturoa on Wednesday morning. On leaving the vehicle at 10.30 o'clock, the deceased told witness that he would return by the 11.30 o'clock 'bus, and started to walk off in the direction of the steps leading up to Paritutu. According to witness, he then appeared to be in quite a normal condition. Mr. Cecil Gray, who was a personal friend of the deceased, stated in his evidence that it had since been found that the reported presence of the late Mr. Cray on the oilfields on Wednesday afternoon was incorrect. The position in which the umbrella had been found indicated that deceased had been sitting on the edge of the peak. The late Mr. Gray had been in very indifferent health of late, but had nevertheless always maintained his cheerful disposition. He was fond of the open air, and was an extremely active man. Questioned by Senr.-Sergeant Haddrell, witness replied that the deceased had no mental aberration which would cause him to throw himself over the cliff. Dr. Walker deposed to having been attending deceased, who was suffering from physical prostration. He was a very cheerful man. It was not a wise thing for a man in his weak physical state to have climbed Paritutu that day. Openair treatment of a kind was, however, beneficial to a person in deceased's condition; indeed, witness had'himself .prescribed it for him. The exertion of climbing to the top of the peak might certainly have produced exhaustion, which would precede a fainting fit. As a matter of fact, it was quite possible that the late Mr. Gray might h'xvo been seized with an attack of vertigo while resting on the peak, and in that case he would be precipitated over the cliff. The deceased's domestic relations were particularly happy, and witness had not the slightest suspicion of suicidal tendencies. Evidence was also given by Mr. A. H. Johnstone, who said there was no reason whatever to suspect that the late Mr. Gray had been in any trouble. Senior-Sergeant Haddrell, of the New Plymouth police, deposed to finding the body, as reported in yesterday's Daily 'News. The personal effects recovered from the body did not include, stated witness, any paper in the handwriting ' of the deceased. In returning a verdict of accidental death, caused by a fall over Paritutu to' a.distance of nearly 500 ft, the Coroner remarked that there was not the slightest tittle of evidence that Mr. Gray had committed suicide. The evidence conclusively showed, ho stated, that he had fallen over accidentally.