CASUALTIES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16431, 27 January 1919, Page 2

CASUALTIES.

—. f : s (press association tblegham.) AUCKLAND, Januaiy 26. During the voyage of the Niagara from Sydney, a passenger, named Joiin Boyd Evitt disappeared on the night before the ship arrived at Auckland. Evitt wns a married man, and a gunsmith, of Sydney. He' was coming to visit relatives in Auckland. INQUEST. Mr S. E. McCarthy, Coroner, hcra an enquiry at the Courthouse ou Saturday morning concerning the ueatli of John 111-own, aged '46 years, who resided at 12/ ; Montreal street, and wiio was found hanging from a beam in a motor room iu. Messrs Davidson and VVauchop's warehouse in Madras street on Friday afternoon. Mr J. A. Oas- ■ sidy appeared ou behalf' of -the relatives. ■ .. •James Higgins, a storeman employed by Messrs Davidson and Wiiucnop, gave evidence regarding the finding of the body, and said tjiat for some time past $he deceased had be.'n in a morose state, he hail, however, never expressed any intention "of doing away himself. At the time or the influenza epidemic deceased's .wife, his eldest son, two brothers-in-law, and others—six or seven altogether— died .iu his house. lie had nursed them all. He was of a very kindly disposition, but after these events he became melancholy and reserved, only speaking when necessary. John. Higgins, head "storeman at the warehouse, • gave - corroborative evidence, and' said deceased had complained to him about- not being able to sleep well. Deceased was ' conscientious in the extreme. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased committed® suicide by hanging himself during a fit ot melancholia consequent upon severe domestic .affliction. " The four-yiear-old son of Mr George Collister, of Kaiapoi, fell off the landing stage at the Cure Boating Club's shed on Saturday 1 morning, and'' was drowned. The body, was recovered after, .being, in the water, about forty minutes. An inquest was held by Mr T. A. B. Bailey, when &< verdict of accidental drowning was returned. •■•- . , /