SUICIDE BY GAS POISONING

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 49, 22 November 1926, Page 13

SUICIDE BY GAS POISONING

DOMESTIC TROUBLES THE CAUSE. Dominion Special. Auckland, November 20. William James Murray (aged 42) was this morning found lying in front of the gas stove in a kitchen of a house off Symonds Street with a gas tube in his mouth and the gas turned on. An inquest was held before the Coroner (Mr. \V. R. McKean, S.M.). Caroline Douglas stated that the deceased was a boarder with her. She last saw him alive hist evening at about seven o’clock. He retired to bis room, and at that time he appeared to be cheerful. At five o’clock this morning Mr. Douglas found him lying in the kitchen in front of the gas stove with a gas tube in his mouth and the gas turned on. Witness found two letters on the deceased’s bed. The police were informed, but on arrival found the man dead. , , , . The letters found on the bed showed that the deceased had great domestic troubles. Although he had been married for 25 years his wife had lately taken out a separation order against him. He l»ft one letter to his wife and one to Mrs. Douglas. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide by gas poisoning while in a state ot distress.