DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3630, 26 April 1927, Page 3

DETERMINED SUICIDE.

YOUNG MAN MAKES OWN FUNERAL PYRE.

TRAGIC AFFAIR AT WHANGAREI.

Whangarei, April 22.

A ghastly tragedy presented itself to the horrified eyes of searchers for a missing young man this evening, at 5 o’clock. Francis Daniel Rumbal, aged 27, employed as a porter at the Whangarei Hospital, was reported missing at 10.30 last night. The young fellow was last seen alive on the Maunu Road, by which the hospital is approached, by another member of the hospital staff, Miss Jessie Price, some seven and a-half hours earlier.

It is apparent that his intentions were suspected by his fathei’, who stated!earl[y thisfn/rning.tava newspaper man that he did not expect rc find him alive. That fear was confirmed with the arrival with the mail to Mr D. T. Rumbal’s house at Kamo, of a letter written by his son the previous day, and which intimated that he intended to commit suicide.

A search party, which included the father, came on the young man’s body in some bush off Maunu Road, and only a short distance from the hospital grounds. The body was found with practically (very stitch of clothing burned off the trunk. Nearby was an empty bottle of kerosene, a box of matches, and a razor.

It ryas evident that the unfortunate' young man had poured kerosene over his clothes and set fire to htmself, allowing'himself to be burnt to death as he lay on his back in the scrub.

The body was brought to the morgue, am! an inquest will be held m the morning. It is stated that deceased, who for some six or seven years past had suffered from epileptic fits, had not been happy in his surroundings.