SANDY BAY TRAGEDY Postal Employee's Death Evidence at Inquest Verdict of Suicide
The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860-1954) Wednesday 27 November 1929 p 3 Article
SANDY BAY TRAGEDY
Postal Employee's Death
Evidence at Inquest Verdict of Suicide
"This is. a case of suicide," said the Coroner (Mr. J. B. Reid) after hearing the evidence yesterday at the inquest on the body of Aubrey Thomas Donald, aged 30 years, a teleqraph operator employed at the Hobart General Post Office, who was found dead at his residence, 73 King Street, Sandy Bay, early on the morning of Thursday last.
Superintendent W. G. Oakes conducted the proceedings.
Dr. Arthur Leslie Giblin said he received an urgent call to 73 King Street at 7.30 a.m. on November 21, and found a man in the wash-house there with his head in a gas stove. The gas was turned off, but there was a smell of gas. He applied stimulants and tried artificial respiration, for half-an-hour without avail. Death was due to coal gas poisoning.
Superintendent Oakes: Was there any evidence of struggling?
Witness: No; coal gas has the effect of making the. muscles powerless.
Gwendoline Roberta Donald, wife of the deceased, said that her husband had been very restless since Christmas. Just after daylight on the morning of Thursday he got out of bed, and when asked where he was going, ho said "outside." He left the room, and she went to sleep. When she awoke later she got out of bed and met her daughter Phyllis ' and Mrs. Price. They tried to prevent her going to the wash-house. She went there and saw,her husband lying face downwards, with his head In the gas stove. Dr. Giblin was summoned. After trying resuscitation methods he told her that her husband was dead. He had consulted Dr. Hodgkinson, Dr. Ratten. Dr. Giblin, and Dr. Macgowan for his nerves, and Dr. Sprent for stricture. He was away'from work on sick leave on ac- count ot nerve trouble on two occasions .-once for six weeks, and another time four weeks.
Phyllis-Gwendoline Donald, daughter of the deceased, gave evidence as to find- ing her father in the wash-house.
Gladys Sybil Price- also gave evi- dence.
Constable Wilkins said that after making- an examination of the premises, and the position of the body, he was of opinion that deceased committed suicide.
THE VERDICTV
The Coroner said that from tile evidence tendered; the deceased, who had been, suffering from ill-health, and could not sleep, died from asphyxia,, as a result of coal gas poisoning, it being a case of suicide.
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