INQUEST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1424, 22 May 1886, Page 2

INQUEST.

The inquest on the body of Mr John Gorton, who committed suicide by hanging on Thursday was held yesterday afternoon, before Mr 11. 0. fci.Baddoley, coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr T. Quill was chosen foreman. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken : .Robert Norrish, butcher, said that at 9.J0 on the previous morning, in consequence of what he was told, ho went to Gorton’s place, and found the deceased hanging to a hook in a lean-to, attached to the cob house. The deceased’s head was bent forward, the knot of the rope being at the back of the neck. The deceased’s shins were resting on a box, but not his knees ; they would not reach. Witness, who had a knife witli him, cut the deceased down, opened his clothes around his throat, and drove off for Dr Leahy. Witness thought the deceased was dead, and when he brought the doctor back he pronounced life extinct. Witness saw the deceased on the

previous Saturday, and he seemed then in good spirits. Constable Smart said that in consequence of information received on the previous morning, he wont to Gorton’s place, where'the found the deceased lying on hia back in the lean-to. Witness examined the neck and

head of deceased, but could find no marks oi violence. Witness found the rope, produced

hanging from a hook in the rafter. Witness had known deceased for some six years, and had always thought him of a cheerful disposition. Had not seen deceased lately. Elizabeth Crum, daughter of the deceased, said that the deceased had his breakfast in

witness’s house on the previous morning. He was more cheerful than witness had seen him for some time. Deceased went out about eight, and witness next saw him about nine, when he was walking about ns usual. A quarter of an hour afterwards witness also saw him. Witness did not see him again till she found him hanging in the lean-to,

about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes afterwards. Witness ran out and told Mr Norrish, who was passing, and he came in and cut the deceased down, The deceased was in his seventieth year. Pie suffered from sciatica, and was slightly dropsical Deceased had been depressed in spirits at times since the death of his wife, last September. He occasionally wandered in his mind. The deceased often said he would do away with himself. He always said this when witness thought he was not quite right. Witness told her husband of what the deceased said, but she did not think he contemplated suicide. Site always talked the idea out of deceased’s mind. The deceased seemed troubled because owing to ill health he was not doing such a good business as he did some years ago. The deceased never threatened to make away with himself before the death of his wife This was all the evidence, and the jury, without retiring, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased had committed suicide while suffering from temporary insanity.