SAD CASE OF SUICIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1916, Page 4

SAD CASE OF SUICIDE.

DEATH IX HOSPITAL. A resident of Inglewood, Thomas Charles Baker, aged 31, died in the New Plymouth 'Hospital early on Saturday morning as the result of cutting his throat. Deceased was a, married man, with one child, and was a laborer by occupation. He had been suffering from spinal disease, and had been a patient in the New Plymouth Hospital for fifteen months.

An inquest touching the death was held before the Coroner, Mr. S. E. McCarthy, on Saturday. Dr. E. A- Walker, medical superintendent }f the hospital, said deceased knew he would never recover from the disease from which lie suffered. During bis residence in the hospital deceased had been an exemplary patient, lie at no time had shown signs of mental aberration. When witness saw him at 3 p.m. on Friday, deceased was in his usual condition. At midnight the nurse in charge reported that he had cut bis throat. ITe. died an hour later.' Dr. Walker said death was due to loss of blood, caused by a self-inflicted wound in the throat.

Nurse H. A. Nicoll, who was in charge of the ward in which deceased was a patient at the time of his death, said she saw deceased at 11.30 p.m. on Friday, and he was then all right. A little later she beard vomiting, and found deceased with bis throat cut. A bloodstained razor was lying near at band. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide while suffering from an incurable disease.