SUICIDE AT PETONE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 46, 18 November 1926, Page 12

SUICIDE AT PETONE

RECENT ARRIVAL FROM ENGLAND

DID NOT WANT TO BECOME BURDEN ON STATE

A determined case of suicide occurred at Petone yesterday moriiing, when Archibald Mclnnes, British migrant, who arrived in the Dominion about six months ago, ended his life by cutting bis throat with a razor.

Nearby residents were startled about 7 a.m. by the cries of a woman proceeding from 337 Jackson Street. JJp on investigations being made, the body of deceased was found in an outhouse, with the throat cut from ear to ear. Deceased, who was 37 years of age, was a married mAu, with two children, aged ten and six" years respectively. An inquest was conducted in the afternoon at the Petone Courthouse by Mr. E. Page, S.M. Mary Jane Mclnnes, widow of deceased, stated that she and her husband had risen at 6.30 a.m. She had prepared the breakfast, while deceased smoked a cigarette. Later deceased had gone to an outhouse. She heard a thud, but thought that it had been caused by workmen dropping timber' next door. When breakfast was ready she called out, but received no reply. Slie then tried to push open the door, but found it jammed. Eventually she managed to open it, and saw deceased lying on the floor. She then ran out and called foe assistance. Her husband bad been employed as a labourer in C. and A. Odlin’s timber yard. He was 37 years of age, and arrived in New Zealand on June 14 last. He had stated on a previous occasion after a call on the Immigration Department, that, rather than become a burden on the Government be would do away with himself. During the war he had served with the 42nd Division, and had been wounded four times. He had recovered from the wounds, but they caused him trouble if his work was strenuous. On the previous evenin'? he had stated that the Immigration Department had told him not to sit at home, but to go and look for work. He was worried about his health, but was all right m regard to money matters If he could have returned to’'England lie could have got suitable work with his previous employer, where he had worked for 21 vears before emigrating. He had been in fairlv constant work since he arrived, hut had been in three different situations. Senior Sergeant McKelvie stated that he had found deceased on the floor with a razor alongside him. The Coroner said that it seemed that deceased was in bad health, owing to serious wounds at the war. He had come to New Zealand about six months ago, and was anxious to. return to EngInd. The state of his health had worried him. He found that deceased had committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor while in a depressed state of mind due to anxiety as to-the state of his health.