The Recent Suicide at Rangiwahia.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 269, 17 May 1895, Page 2

The Recent Suicide at Rangiwahia.

* An inquest was held at Rangiwahia on Wednesday evening on the remains of William J. Harris (whose death we announced on Wednesday), a wellknown settler, who was 24 years of age, and son of Mr Joseph Harris, of Marton. Deceased died suddenly at about 4 o'clock at the Pemberton 'Hotel. The enquiry was conducted by Constable O'Leary before Mr J. P. Aldridge, acting-coroner, and a jury consisting of Messrs T. Moffatt (foreman), J. Clemens, E. Kinkead, Walter Stevens, J. McClenaghan, and John Jones. Dr Davenport made a post mortem examination. A letter was found on deceased, addressed to his father, in which he stated he only saw one way of ending his troubles, and containing directions for the disposal of his property. A bottle containing strychnine was found in one of his pockets, and evidence went to show he purchased it from the chemist at Birmingham, in the presence of a witness named L. Birch, for the ostensible purpose of poisoning dogs. The jury returned a verdict that deceased came by his death by taking poison while in a state of temporary insanity. The witnesses examined were Misses Mary and Kate Mclllroy, Messrs A. Laing, A. Theobold, and J. Smallman. The cause of the rash act is said to have been financial difficulties, and although not of a grave nature, he seems to have worried about it. An unreciprocated love affair is also assigned as a cause. The sad affair has cast quite a gloom over the whole settlement. We understand deceased's life was insured for £500.