ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES
A SOLDIER'S SUICIDE.
By Telegraph — Press Association, Dunedin, January 9. At an early hour this morning in Dunedin Hospital, a returned soldier named William John Willis was found by one of the nurses with his throat cut, and a razor in his hand. He had been brought back to New Zealand on the Maheno, and when admitted to the hospital was suffering from dysentery. Deceased was a widower, and resided in Dunedin. -Dominion, 10/1/1916.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
The Friends of the late Private WILLIAM JOHN WILLIS (and Family) are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave the Hospital (Cumberland street entrance) THIS DAY (TUESDAY), 11th inst., at 2.30 p.m., for the Northern Cemetery.
HUGH GOURLEY, Undertaker, Clarke and Maclaggan streets. -Otago Daily Tmes, 11/1/1916.
SAD CASE OF SUICIDE
A SOLDIER'S UNFORTUNATE END.
An inquest was held by Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., at the Hospital yesterday afternoon, as to the death of William John Willis, one of the men who returned from the front by the Maheno on the 5th inst. Willis, after being wounded in his country's service, and practically recovering from his wounds, was attacked with dysentery, and was admitted to the Hospital on the 6th inst., more for observation purposes than anything else, as he was apparently then on the road to recovery. Shortly after midnight on the 9th inst. a nurse heard a noise, and going to the ward where Willis was, she found that the unfortunate man had cut his throat with a razor.
Harry Willis, joiner, residing in High street, Dunedin, said he identified the body as that of his brother, William John Willis. Deceased was a widower, aged 40 years, and had a daughter 16 years of age. He left with the Second Reinforcements, and returned by the Maheno on the 5th inst. He was admitted to the Hospital next day. Witness saw him on Thursday evening, and he then seemed to be a bit low, but looked forward to getting well again. He complained that he did not seem to be able to sleep. He said he was well able to carry out his military duties until he was wounded. He had no financial worries of any sort, and gave no indication that he was likely to injure himself.
Florence Josephine Holden, nurse at the Hospital, said the deceased had been a patient of hers. Witness saw him just after midnight on the 9th inst., when she gave him tea. He said he was quite comfortable. There were no other patients in that ward. Shortly afterwards witness heard a noise and went to see what it was. On going into the ward she saw deceased lying back in his bed with his throat cut. Witness rang for the night sister — Sister Douglas — and she called Dr Martin, who arrived on the scene in a few minutes. Deceased was not alive when the doctor arrived. Deceased was always very cheerful in his way. A razor was afterwards found under deceased's arm. The razor was usually kept in deceased's soap bag, in a locker beside the bed. Witness believed it was usual to keep razors there. Deceased's mental condition seemed to be quite ordinary. He slept fairly well on the whole, but not always all night.
Jessie Panton Douglas, night sister in the Hospital, said that she was called to Batchelor Ward in the morning of the 9th inst. Nurse Holden told her that deceased had cut his throat. Witness went into the ward and saw the man was dead. She called the doctor, who came immediately. It was the custom for patients to be allowed to have their razors in the lockers close to the bed.
Dr Douglas Martin, house surgeon, stated that he last saw deceased alive at 9.30 on Saturday night. He was then almost asleep, and said he was all right. Witness saw him again at a quarter to 1 o'clock next morning. He was dead, but the body was quite warm. There was a very deep incision in the throat, which had severed the carotid artery, and deceased had bled to death. Death would result very quickly. As far as witness knew it was the custom in all hospitals to allow patients to have their razors in the lockers. Deceased was convalescent when admitted, but was suffering from dysentery. He was not mentally affected in any way.
Margaret Gordon, nurse in the Hospital, said that she had attended on deceased. She spoke to him every day. He never complained of anything special, and said he was recovering from dysentery. He seemed a bright, cheerful patient, and was not at all depressed.
Dr Falconer, medical superintendent at the Hospital, stated that he saw deceased on the Maheno on the 5th inst., and went into the case. Deceased had had a severe attack of dysentery, and was convalescent. He was recommended for admission to the Hospital for further observation for dysentery, and was allowed 24 hours' leave before being admitted, as his case was not serious. He was admitted on Thursday, between 11 and 12 o'clock. He then said his dysentery was much improved. He was diffident about being admitted to the Hospital. On Friday deceased seemed all right, and cheerful, and at no time did he show any sign of mental weakness It was the practice in all hospitals to have all personal toilet equipment in the locker, except when patients showed mental aberration, when they were removed and put under the charge of a special attendant in a ward on the ground floor. Deceased was admitted for dysentery, with a previous history for a gunshot wound.
Mr Bartholomew said that the evidence as to deceased's mental condition, at any rate immediately prior to the commission of this fatal act, was that it was normal, and he could not qualify the verdict. The verdict would be that of suicide by cutting the throat with a razor. There was one point to be commented upon, and that was as to the razor being left in a locker by the bedside. Dr Falconer had assured him that it was customary for toilet requisites to be left beside the bed. That would seem to be the general practice, but he (Mr Bartholomew) thought this case had shown the necessity for that practice being altered to some extent. In the present case the patient had shown no mental symptoms, so there had been no negligence on the part of the Hospital staff in leaving a dangerous article within reach of the deceased. He thought that after the use of razors they should be removed from the patients, which would certainly prove a safeguard. Of course if a patient had decided upon doing away with himself there was no safeguard in the matter, but in the Hospital what he had suggested would prove a safeguard. During temporary aberration and a low physical state such a course might be taken. If the opportunity did not present itself a patient might not be tempted to attempt an act of the kind. He could not blame the Hospital authorities in this particular case, but he was making these comments with a view to hospital authorities seriously considering whether they should not be acted upon in future. -Otago Daily Times, 11/1/1916.
MILITARY FUNERALS
Two troopers who died in the Duneclin Hospital last week were buried with military honours on the 11th. The first was that of Private William John Willis, which left the Hospital at half-past 2 for the Northern Cemetery. The coffin was carried on a gun carriage, provided by the Central Battery, and in it were placed several pretty wreaths, one of which was forwarded by the members of the Anzac Olub. The firing party consisted of returned troopers, under Sergeant-major Tustain, and in the cortege was a batch of soldiers who recently came back from the front, in charge of Sergeant Banwell. Lieutenant Keligher represented the Defence Department. -Otago Witness, 19/1/1916.
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