A TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1930, Page 5

A TRAGEDY

NEW YEAR SUICIDE. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) DANNEVIRKE, Jan. 2. One family in Dannevirke have cause to remember the dawn of New Year for it was ushered in for them under very tragic circumstances. Harold •mines Hoy, aged about 45, a eonunereial traveller in tlie employ of H. E. Stevenson and Co., wholesale druggists ol Christchurch, committed suicide in me early hours of New Year’s day by taking poison, following unusual circumstances.

Early on New Year’s Eve he had been a visitor to the house of F. S. P. Cotter, a railway clerk of 97, McGhee St. A little alter nine o’clock Mr and Mi's Cotter, with a lady visitor from Wellington, Hiss Stevens, sister of Mrs Cotter, left the house to spend the evening with some neighbours, Mr and Mrs A. Fuseli, carefully locking all doors and windows before going out. They left Hoy at the front gate. He Said he was going to Marton, and they wished him a Happy New Year.

Mr and Mrs Cotter and her sister returned home about three o’clock on New Tear’s morning, and retired 'to bed. Mrs Cotter’s sister, as was apparently the usual custom, looked under the bed before getting in, and found Hoy underneath it. She became alarmed and told him to leave the house at once and that she would call Mrs Cotter. Hoy told Miss Stevens not to call her sister or make a disturbance. Miss Stevens left the 'bedroom and called out to Mrs Cotter, who on coming into the room found deceased standing in the passage at Miss Stevens bedroom door, and requested him to leave the bouse. Hoy then went and sat on Miss Stevens’ bed, took out from bis pocket a small bottle and drank its contents, falling across the bed.

Mr Cotter being unaware that Hoy had taken poison, believing him to be under tlie influence of liquor, pushed him out of the front door on to th verandah and the family then retire" to bed. Some time later Cotter’s attention was directed to moans coming from the direction of the verendali, and looking through one of the front rooms, he saw the deceased lying very still. Cotter became alarmed and went for the assistance of T. Russell. They made an examination of deceased and came to the conclusion that lie was dead. They then telephoned the police and a doctor was summoned who pronounced life extinct.

Deceased had been in Dannevirke since Dec. 24th. and his address is given as No. 3, Pine Grove Road, Devonpoi't, Auckland. He is married with two children.

Deceased apparently gained access to tne house through an unlocked scullery window. Whether the man had any sinister motive, at present has not been revealed.

‘ Deceased was said to be on friendly terms with Miss Stevens. Hoy is the son of a retired postmaster who lives at Northcote, Auckland, and has a brother at Hastings.