DEATH OF MAJOR SAUNDERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 735, 7 February 1910, Page 6

DEATH OF MAJOR SAUNDERS.

THE INQUEST. (By Teleffraph.-SDecial CorresDondenU . ' . / : >• Marton,. February 6.y j the',-inquest touching the death- ox, ; Major- Henry ••W.'- at- Bata,P.ai-' •rick O'Giidy,' gaw ovidence ascto deoeased's arreet. .He boos -'hii'■ .until. ;the . fiom and- had'i; of mates,..who . : were; working- wrtlw- (; ; line. •He ■. accompanied Constable. t Gra»y ;.. . . (with'. Saunders':. to;:his :s?haroi After.'da • • ceised.' had ohangedi' ;his. shirt •; he;, ; , * to.eat a:piecQ':'of" Dread'.and; butter,, as, h€ '. . was: hungry.; >They . kept a: cloee, .waidi . 1 over him while 'he was, eating.. ';They pthen.left' to, ; .catch .the; train. ; ~Satinderr'-y ; _ •locked' the door of the wlwxe, and handed v ' the key; ponstabie.' ; ' : / jumped 'over tho gate, and .when, aboui two ohains- .firom : t£e. whare." he7.began, .to . ; slagg'feri' i and...then coUapsed.;.' Efforts to ' . rsuscitat^'rrlii^i;• proved f arid he dicc ■ 'wifKinten minutes... .' .Witness.- , did . ; think that . deceased could posably. haw • ? inj.the iwlmrejjwMle.ttei. • .were a.'■/? loid containing poisorL ' or- something: els®, ; in - his .pocket.Johii i Murphy,, surfacemaai,i ..corrobor-. j afced| the'/.statements; made.;.by; the . pr^.- ; ., vious ; witness. A'V : '* : ConstabkfGray.also'gave evidpce. aocount ; of .*what'' occurred'• m v , : ; the whaw ,: .. .when Sa'unders' was' under . arrest, waa. l. ' similar to that given by O'Grady., v searched Saunders .before'-.taHng ..himhis whare. He wanted , to ; go there to , ' hand- f over ; the book# . (he being secretary) t6 . Mr; O'Grady, who was »tot;',down!, and'. • made out- elipr whichi'/to-a-'cheque, he 'handed.;, to : witness, 1 to be banked at Hunterville., He'• •' watched him -.carefully,, so - .that, he, 00md ..' not dtf.{anything .td .evade justice. Whwi .: > he .to - stagger''on the thfl . caught' hold of him and / said: "What havo you.taken, SaundererT : . He appeared to be • incapable : of• wplyina;/.;' In- the whare, he): found ,a nimber. letters^lowingAthat .'suicide, was; ; pp&-Y : :; ' meditated: about'^, January,; 8. v This .-was; ,: about .the -.time ( two;detectives-yere;.at; Rata. : ' -A'.pbrtion r 'of;onei letter; read.iM v follows . r v ' ■: "This the, last ; time any letter . wul reach-.you from -me; : When.;you reoeiva it L shall be beyond help. The p.n.: given to:-,— and one for. at are both forgeries.--.With-these.; ,b:ceptions'l'.hav< t' f •• been' a faithful;friend' to.iyoutand. studied your interests as my; own. - vThe-reasoii'l took ,this : ,extraordinary method- of ; , raifl', ing m'onevi-was:-, that, lf t.the, .worst! came "you- confession.,exoE- ; ' erates: you- altogether; ;am '"sorry; yon - • •havQ%had' the. , ;troible >ofr journey ...to y . • Wanganui. • Had- you said, aJittle.;more V yesterday ;'I would have saved. you ■ that trouble - and • expense. ;• Good-bye,old. I,Trill -call:you' that once more. . , ; In : with- deceased-s a^int-. .. j ment/* asV major of ' the^B^gitikei-Bat-'v ; : talion - (School -Cadete),; it' is ■ stated;-that Jlajor SMrDphaldcan firid no* record of :hia f 'appointment,' '.aiid ;iio-records,.; can^--; be, . its confirmation by. the-Educa«, ! • , Board, - which' is necessary,.; ; ;.Thi3 j. matter was discussed when- the^new.^regTK'; lations came into forw, atd it was found c , that launders ■ was riot for • pbintmerit under the new, Act, as . only • 1 members of the reserve/and 1 teachers-can * . hold office.v Appointment- are-rmade. bj _ the- officer commanding subject confir- . ' mation bv'the. '. ; • ! 'On Wedne'sday. Saunders attended the. Rata School-paraded and^read the. orders:' for ; Lord ■ Kitchener's; inspection ••• of •: cadets: The'-'headmaster of the v School do«, not know. froto v v:;-y----'whom*; Saunders' 1 -received'.' these- *;or-, , der's', ox - what - .authority x he; had for -f ai>« /, : ; nouricing.'them;•;v.v..--.--.- . : -- ■ 1 j ■; ■ '1 1 I—i—'; '