A WIFE’S ACTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1921, Page 6

A WIFE’S ACTION.

SUICIDE BY DROWNING. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. MENTALLY DEPRESSED. The circumstances concerning the death of Ethel May Panckhurst, whose body was found on the beach near Belt Road, New Plymouth, in the early hours of Monday morning, were enquired into yesterday, when an inquest was held by Mr. H. R. Cattley, J.P., (acting Coroner), and the following jury:—Messrs. S. Teed, J. Austin, A. 11. Howell and C. H. Feilding. Senior- Sergeant McCrorie led the evidence on behalf of the police. Mr. A. Bewley watched proceedings for the husband, Mr. ,W. H. Panckhurst.

Dr. Wade testified to accompanying Mr. Panckhurst down to the beach on Monday morning. He found the body of deceased lying on the back, and partially buried in the sand. It was removed to the morgue, where he conducted an examination. He found no marks of violence. There was no trace of any irritant poison in the mouth, but those signs might have been covered by immersion in the sea. About six weeks ago Mrs. Panckhurst came to him, complaining of iodine poisoning, but in this case the symptoms were more consistent with drowning than of iodine poisoning. lodine -was wot a quick poison, and he had known instances of people recovering from an ounce, though in other cases a teaspoonful had been fatal.

To Mr. Bewley: He had attended Mrs. Panckhurst previously, and found her a nervous, sensitive woman; she was inclined to be moody. When she took iodine on the first occasion she explained that she had had \ difference with her husband, and took the poison on the impulse of the moment.

HUSBAND’S EVIDENCE. The ’husband of deceased, Walter Henry Panckhurst, residing in Hine Street, said his wife was thirty-two years of age. On Sunday night he left home with her between half-past seven and eight with the intention of calling on a Mr. Blanchard. They walked along as far as Belt Road, and came back to Hine Street. When near Cutfield Road his wife said as it was near eight o’clock she would like to see the Rev. Mr. Elliott. In reply to witness, she told him not to wait. He went on to Blanchard’s, and left there about twenty minutes past eight. He then walked around) the block two or three times, but as his wife had not come, he proceeded along to the church in the .South Road, but he found it in darkness. He went home, and asked his boy, Roy, if his mother had heen in, and the reply was that she had come in and gone out again. He met. Mr. Blanchard, and told him he was feeling anxious that his wife bad not returned. He rang up the Rev. Elliott and found that-his wife had not been to the church. Mr. Blanchard and he then walked along as far as Morley Street and back into Hine ' Street. On reaching homo ho made enquiries from his chilcLVera, who replied that she had not soon her mother. He went out again and walked around. Gn returning, Vera, said that two bottles of iodine had been taken from behind a picture in the bedroom. Tie was rather surprised to find there was any iodine in the house at all, as his wife had promised after the previous occurrence not to get any more without telling him. Accompanied by Mr. Blanchard, he then went towards Belt Road and made a search, and afterwards reported to the police station that his wife was missing. Hp secured the assistance of a neighbor, Mr. Robson, and ail three went along the beach, where, they subsequently discovered the body. When his wife left him she. went in the, direction of the South Road. She.was in a brighter mood than usual that night, and he had no suspicion that she would attempt, to commit suicide. Shp had taken iodine on a previous occasion, following a dispute with him over household matters. On that occasion she mentioned that when she came back from a holiday she had been told about two young ladies named Blanchard hav- i ing been frequently visiting the house; this was in the. morning, and at seven o’clock at night she told him she had taken iodine. He took her to the doctor for treatment. He could not account for her action in committing suicide, and thought there was far less chance of this happening than on the previous occasion. She. had formerly been in a nervous condition. Both himself and his wife were on friendly terms with the Blanchards, and were continually visiting each other’s homes. ‘•TO CLEAR UP MATTERS.” I To Mr.'Bewley: It had come to his | knowledge that certain statements had I been made concerning himself and the ; Blanchards, and his wife had discussed I the matter with him that morning. The j proposed visit to Blanchards that even- * ing was for the purpose of allowing all < parties to clear up matters. | Vera May 'Panckhurst, aged 15 years, » said her mother had purchased iodine j for witness for the treatment, of chilblains. There were two bottles. During | last week she saw one bottle lying ) about, and she. put the two together behind a picture. On Sunday night she found them missing. To a juryman: She was not hiding ; the iodine for any reason, and the idea i of putting the bottles behind the picture was just a notion of her own. She did not know her mother had taken ’ iodine previously. i Recalled: She had found her mother’s gloves, and also discovered a cork from one of the iodine bottles under a chair i in the kitchen. She did not look for ■ the bottle. \ The eleven-year-old son of deceased, Roy Panckhurst, who was at home look- , ing after the baby, testified to seeing > his mother return home on Sunday night. Al) she said was, “Hello, son,” and went into the hall. -She went out again immediately afterwards. Arthur W. Blanchard, 153 Hine Street, gave evidence as”' to meeting t Panckhurst on various occasions dur- , ing the evening, and to being present j with him when the body was found. 5 1 Albert W. Robson, salesman, Hine l Street, said he was called by Mr. Panck--1 hurst about 1.30 on Monday morning, ' and accompanied ’him and Blanchard in ■ 'the searching up till the finding of the 7 body. He thought he knew a reason for Mrs. Panckhurst’s suicide, and he had told Panckhurst the previous day he meant to disclose everything. He had seen deceased at 4.30 on Sunday afternoon ; she was then, quite normal. She told him that she had made arrangements to see the Rev, Mr, Elliott that night

in company with Mr. Panckhurst. She said she had spoken to her husband that morning, and asked if he would go to' church with her, and he replied that he would not. Mrs. Panckhurst then told witness that she did not know what to do. He then advised her to go, whether her husband went or not. There had been trouble over Panckhurst’s relations with the girl Ella Blanchard; Mrs. Panckhurst found a letter • from the girl addressed to her husband, and which had been left lying about the house.

Constable S. Small gave evidence regarding the finding of the body on the beach.

After a short retirement the jury returned a finding that deceased committed suicide by drowning, while in a state of mental depression.