INQUEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1916, Page 7

INQUEST.

THE DEATH OF W.AI. EARP. Tlit adjourned inquest into (lie death of William Earp, who committed suicide by cutting his throat with a pair of pruning "hears on September 23, was concluded yesterday morning, by Mr. A. Cr.-oke, coroner. Constable Boulton gave formal evidence. Dr. D. Blackley stated that, life was quite extinct on his arrival at deceased's house. He found the man's- throat cut practically from ear to ear. It was a wide gup, the wind-pipe having been severed in two places. The jugular vein was cut across and important structures on both sides of the middle lino wer-2 sevrred. There was a considerable quantity of blood on the floor beside the head, and also a pool at his feet. Just in front of a small dressing table and mirror, a pair of pruning sheares, blood stained, was lying on the floor near deceased right hand. No medical effort could have saved deceased, he having died within about 10 minutes of the deed. He had been attending deceased for about six 01 eight months, the complaint being hypochondriasis (a form of insanity), with stomach, symptoms. Deceased had no definite disease, although his imagination led him to believe so. He vas sent to Porirua on this account, having then aireidal tendencies. He called to see deceased about the end of June, and was surprised to see he had be™ discharged from the asylum. He thought his condit'on had not improved; in i';,et, it was worse than when he left. Deceased was in bed at that time, but witness could seo no reason why he should not be up. Be complained of pains in his legs, and headaches. Saw deceased last on Thursday afternoon, 21st inst., in bed when He stated that in tpre of treatment he felt no better. He pointed out some little scars, the result probably of some small skin abrasion received years ago', and said that if his legs were all right they should not have pits in them W:e that. He iwas apparently very depressed, and witness considered that his mental condition was rather worse than it was about a fortnight before. Advised him to get up and employ himself in some light work. Told Mrs. Earp that hei husband would Do much 'better up, doing some light gardening, than moping about. Impressed upon her that lie was to be carefully watched. Felt certain that his mental condition was such as might lead him to attempt suicide, although he never spoke of doing so. Witness thought he »,:fl t to have been kept at the asylum, ■longer. The. suicide was not a momentary attempl, as deceased must have stood before the 1 Joking glass and cut through the skin fir>t, and continued to cut away until he g(>t to the blood vessel. J)e.ceased's brother cut his throat under similar circumstances with a clasp knife.

A verdict that deceased committed suicide while in a. state of temporary insanity was returned. The Coroner added: "I can only come to the conclusion that this is a case in which, from Dr. Blackley's evidence, it is quite evident that proper care was not exercised, in allowing the man's discharge from the mental hospital only six weeks aiter be was admitted. It was known he was suffering from, suicidal tendencies, and it was also known that he had attempted to commit suicide shortly before being sent to the asylum. Yet iii face of this be was only kept in the asylum six weeks. Br. Blackley attended his -five week 3 later, and expressed surprise that he.had returned from the asylum, as he considered his condition had not improved; in fact, it -was worse thni when he was committed. He had refused to get up, and kept on imagining he was unwell, and despite the effort's of his wife to hide everything with which it was likely he could commit suicide, he did away with himself last Saturday."