HANDLING DEAD BODIES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1519, 15 June 1886, Page 3

HANDLING DEAD BODIES.

Some comment was made at a recent inquest at Newton, Wellington, upon the body of a man who bad hanged himself, upon the singular conduct of a witness named McKechnie, who was the first to discover the body of the unfortunate suicide, it transpired that en finding the deceased, McKechnie became so excited that he lost all presence of mind, and ran away for assistance before attempting to cut down the body. The Coroner (Dr Johnston) expressed astonishment that any person seeing a fellow creature in such a position should not have removed him, in case shat some germs of life might remain. The witness explained that he did not think it right to take down the body until he had acquainted the police, or until he had witnesses present. Dr Johnston (says the Post) pointed out that the saving of life should, under all circumstances, be the first consideration. In his opinion, MeEechnie had • made a terrible mistake. Constable Stewart remarked that some people were under the impression that they ought not to touch a dead body until they had communicated with the police. Dr Johnston said this was an ignorant and stupid idea. In the present instance the circumstance was most unfortunate, for it was just possible that life might have been saved if timely action had been taken. Another witness (Reece) ststed that h# had refrained from removing the rope from deceased’s neck because he thought the police had better see it. Dr. Johnston said it was extraordinary that people should think so much of the duty of the police when a man was dying with a rope round his neck. It was evident that death had resulted from pure strangulation, which would occupy at least some seconds. On the whole, he thought it a most dreadful affnr.