NEW ZEALAND FARMER'S SUICIDE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17105, 29 March 1921, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND FARMER'S SUICIDE.

(rxoH oun own correspondent.) LONDON, February 10. In March of last year an elderly man, suffering from serious injuries to his throat, was discovered lying on a rubbish heap outside »Ramsgate. He was removed to hospital and recovered; from what was apparently an attempt to commit suicide. The sequel to this unhappy event occurred this week when tho body of Mr Daniel Downes was found in the Thames under Westminster Bridge, and at the subsequent coroner's' inquest a verdict was returned of suicide while of unßound mind.

Mr Downes, who was 72 years of age, went out to New Zealand some fifty years ago, where he became a well-known and prosperous farmer in the North Island. Ten years ago he retired and came to this country, where he had since been living, mainly at hotels and seaside resorts. During the war he showed his interest in the country's cause by presenting half a dozen horses to the British Government. His health, however, had not been satisfactory for some years, and he was apparently suffering a good deal from rheunfatism. On December 22nd his medical adviser sent him to Bath to try a cure for his malady, but he disappeared suddenly from there on January sth. The police found a wallet belonging to him on the Paddington Station on that date, but 10 trace of the deceased was discovered until, as recorded, his bodv was found in the Thames this week. "