A PRISON TRAGEDY.
PRISONER HANGS HIMSELF IN A CELL.
The Dunedin Gaol was the seen© of a distressing tragedy to-day, when a man named William Millar, aged forty, a recent arrival from Scotland, who was arrested last night on a charge of being drunk and incapable, hanged himself with the leather belt he had been wearing. Millar was brought before the magistrate, Mr C. C. Graham, this morning at 10.30, and was remanded for a week for medical treatment, his condition being such as to make it evident that he had been drinking heavily for some time. At twelve o'clock Millar received his dinner in his cell at the prison, and ate the greater part of it. At one o'clock Warder O'Reilly looked into the cell, and found Millar suspended by the neck from a small hook in the wall, about five feet from the ground. The man, who was considerably over five feet high, had fastened himself to the hook by his belt, and deliberately strangled himself.
Apparently the cause of the suicide was the acute depression produced by over-drinking. It is known that Millar was in no financial difficulties. So far as is known the man has no friends or relatives in Dunedin. -Evening Star, 28/8/1907.
A PRISON TRAGEDY.
THE INQUEST ON MILLAR.
An inquest touching the death of William Millar, who hanged himself in the Dunedin gaol yesterday, was held this morning before Mr C. C. Graham (coroner) and a jury of six of whom Mr Charles Henry Hayward, was chosen foreman.
Dr James Watt deposed that he attended the deceased professionally on the evening prior to the suicide at his home, and saw him again at the gaol the same evening. Deceased had been drinking, but was not under the influence of drink at the time. From conversation Millar appeared to be depressed, not only from drink, but also from a certain illness. When witness saw deceased again at the police station, at the invitation of the police, be was in a state of depression, and thought the doctor was going to smother him. Witness saw no signs tint would lead him to think that deceased contemplated suicide.
To Sub-inspector Norwood: Judging by the man’s demeanor he came to the conclusion that deceased was suffering from drink. He thought that it was not a case to be sent to the hospital. He thought that the man should have been placed in a padded cell.
To Dr Coughtrey: The onus of the treatment of such cases should not be thrown upon the police at all. All cases of insanity should be treated in a properly equipped hospital, provided with observation wards. That was the course pursued in the Old Country.
John Miller, licensee of the Oban Hotel, deposed that he had known deceased since the latter came to the colony in May. Witness had no previous knowledge of the deceased. Deceased remained six weeks with witness, and then went down to the Nuggets, where he remained for six weeks. He returned to the Oban Hotel a fortnight ago last Monday, and remained with witness ever since. Deceased, on his return, was not drunk, but looked as if he had been drinking whilst he was away. Deceased told witness that he had been away fishing and walking. He told witness that he was well off financially. On his return at seven o’clock on Monday night he had tea, went out, and returned at half-past ten, very intoxicated. He did not snow any signs of mental incapacity until the afternoon of the 27th. About six o’clock on Monday night he said he was suffering from some serious disorder. Witness then took deceased to Dr Watt, where they discussed the advisability of sending him to a private hospital for treatment. During his stay witness used to take him for walks every morning. Witness used to discourage him from drinking, but it was no good, as he simply went away from his hotel and returned under the influence of liquor. Witness never anticipated that the deceased would commit suicide. Deceased came from Paisley, where he had two sisters living. It was not until Tuesday that he behaved in an eccentric manner. Witness identified the body as that of the man Millar who had stayed at his hotel.
Constable Lopdell said that about 8.50 on Tuesday night he was in the Salvation Army Barracks, Dowling street, and during the progress of the meeting the deceased came in and called one of the officers, who referred the constable to deceased. They went to the street and had a long conversation. The deceased said that he overheard two doctors say they were going to smother him, as he was a menace to public health. His reason for calling at the Salvation Army was that he knew he was going to die, and he wished to make his peace with his God. He was in an excited condition, and was perspiring very freely. He smelt strongly of stale drink, but did not seem to have been drinking at that immediate time. From what deceased said he had been drinking heavily. He said that last week he had been on a spree, but had not had a drink since Tuesday morning. He only knew the actual nature of the disorder he was suffering from that morning (Tuesday). When he was advised of his condition by the doctor, he said he was ruined in body and soul. He said he was to be smothered at nine o’clock. Witness assured deceased that he would be protected over that time, and brought him to the police station. At the police station witness was instructed to call Dr Watt, who had previously attended the deceased. Dr Watt arrived at nine o’clock. The draught which the doctor left was administered by witness. The deceased was placed in the padded cell, and was visited frequently during the night. Deceased gave his age as forty, and said he was a bank clerk in Scotland. He was a single man, and arrived in the colony in May. He had no relatives in the colony. Witness thought the man was suffering from delirium tremens, and charged him with helpless drunkenness, which was the usual charge in each cases.
Sub-inspector Norwood deposed that when the deceased was brought to him at the police station the latter was in an excited condition, and was sweating profusely. When questioned he admitted drinking to excess, and said that be had obtained the liquor about town. He was placed in the padded cell, and instructions were given for his safe keeping, and, if necessary, to call in Dr Watt. Deceased appeared much better the following morning, and was brought before the Court on a charge of drunkenness and remanded for a week for medical treatment. On arriving in the colony his bank book showed that he had £400, but witness could not say bow much had been spent. After being remanded deceased was handed over to the prison authorities.
Edwin Glover, the Gaol clerk, deposed that at 11.3 yesterday deceased was brought to the gaol. Witness conversed with him, and could see no signs of mental aberration. Witness was informed by Sergeant Willis, who conducted the prisoner to the gaol, that he was suffering from some disease. On returning from his lunch witness went to his office, and at 1.3 the warder informed him that Millar had hanged himself in his cell. The doctor was telephoned for, and witness and the gaoler went to the cell, where deceased lay on the floor. The straps which had strangled him had been removed, and there appeared to be no signs of life. Everything was done to produce artificial respiration. Dr Coughtrey arrived at 1.12, and pronounced life to be extinct.
To the Coroner: There is no padded cell in the gaol or I would have put the prisoner there.
Thomas Chilton, principal warder, deposed that he asked deceased how long he had been drinking, and was informed “about a fortnight.” Deceased behaved in an ordinary way, and walked up and down with the others. Witness gave instructions that Warder McDonald should take in the prisoner’s dinner. McDonald was on duty during the lunch hour. The strap (produced) witness recognised as one which the deceased had worn. There went no suspicious noises.
James O’Reilly, warder, deposed that he was in charge of the yard between 11 and 12. It was his duly to walk up and down the yard outside the ceils. At about ten minutes to twelve deceased was given his dinner, and seemed quite calm and collected. At about one o’clock witness visited the cells and half opened the doors, so that the dinner tins could he placed outside. Witness specially visited the prisoner because he was a new man, to tell him to come into the yard. Deceased appeared to be sleeping in the corner furthest from the door, but on closer examination witness could see that he was suspended from a hook in the wall about five feet from the floor. Witness, with the help of a prisoner, took the strap from off the man’s neck. He appeared to be dead. Artificial respiration was tried until the doctor came, but without effect.
Dr Coughtrey, gaol surgeon, deposed that on his arrival he found the deceased oi his back practically dead. Witness along with others, persevered with the restorative treatment, without avail. Witness from the first thought it was a hopeless case. Afterwards he examined the body, and found that the strap had caused death by being placed round the chin. Witness formed the opinion that the act had been committed probably half to three-quarters of an hour before the body was discovered. There were no indications of a struggle. Such an act as that committed usually took about three to ten minutes. Witness concurred with the remarks made by Dr Watt as to the proper treatment of such cases, and drew attention to clause 2a in the last annual report of the Inspector of Prisons, protesting against delirium tremens cases being sent to prison for treatment, and suggesting that an end be put to the unfortunates being treated in such places as prisons. The Auckland gaoler had also protested that the practice of treating delirium tremens cases in prisons was unfair to patients and prisoners. A depression due to alcoholism had often given rise to suicidal tendencies, and especially in persons of unstable minds suffering from specific disease. There was a padded cell at the hospital, which, if used for civil cases of alcoholism, should also be used for prison cases. There was nothing in deceased’s condition to raise suspicions in the lay mind.
The Coroner said there could be no doubt that the man’s death was caused by hanging. Alter the evidence he thought they must conclude that the man was in the incipient stages of delirium tremens, and was not responsible for his actions.
The jury returned the verdict of suicide by hanging while temporarily insane, and a rider was added that the attention of the proper authorities should he called to the necessity of having observation wards where such cases could be treated otherwise than in prisons or police stations. -Evening Star, 29/8/1907.
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