A SAD AFFAIR.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 259, 25 October 1928, Page 4

A SAD AFFAIR.

ON TIRAU FARM. Young Man Commits Suicide. An inquest touching the death of John Lambert Pol wart, a youth employed by Mr. Swney, farmer, of Tirau,. who committed suicide on Friday morning, was held before Mr. J. W. Barr Brown, district coroner, in the Putaruru Courthouse on Friday afternoon. John Lambert Pol wait said he identified the body as that' of his son, who was 16 years of age, and who he last saw alive on the previous Sunday when he called at his bach. On that date he seemed to be quite happy and healthy. His son had been in a mental hospital and had only been released about a fortnight ago on probation. He was then all right and eager to get to work. While staying with witness deceased did the cooking and just loitered around. On deceased’s own initiative he wrote to Mr. Swney and applied for a job. Mr. Swney came up and saw witness and as witness did not like to stand in deceased’s way he let him go to the job. Deceased was the eldest of five children, his mother having died during the epidemic in 1918. To the coroner witness stated that Mr. Swney knew of the boy’s weakness.

John Thomas Swney, farmer, stated that he advertised for a boy and deceased answered. He lived in the house with the family and was a splendid worker, being clean and neat in his habits. At times witness noticed that deceased seemed a little peculiar while at work. That morning he had milked the cows as usual and brought up the house milk from the shed. Deceased then went to his room and a few' seconds afterwards witness heard a click which he thought was deceased packing his bag, as he had told the boys he was leaving in the morning. When he came in to tea the previous night deceased had a peculiar look and seemed to be in trouble and as if he wanted to get out of the way. He did not say anything, however. When witness heard the click- in deceased’s room he thought deceased was going away without letting him know, and he stepped to the door but saw deceased go towards the shed. Everybody then went in for breakfast and. on deceased not turning up witness and his son went to look for him. They found him among the trees outside with his throat cut. Witness could see he was dead and immediately rang the police. To the police, witness said he knew deceased was weak minded and had been in hospital. John Edward Leach Swney, son of the previous witness, said deceased had worked with him in the milking shed and had always been very quiet. Witness had never tried to make deceased talk and when spoken to deceased would just answer and nothing more. The previous night deceased had been absent minded at his wrnrk, taking the machines off a cow and leaving them loose while he went to strip another cow. Witness did not say anything to deceased on the matter. Deceased and witness slept in the same room and the last night he had not slept much. During the morning’s milking deceased was absent minded as on the previous night. When deceased left the shed he was not seen again by witness till witness and his father found the body.

Constable Murphy, Putaruru, said that at about 8.15 on Friday morning % he was advised of the occurrence. Witness found the body lying face downwards among some trees behind the house. On turning the body over he noticed a razor in the right hand. The throat was cut right across, the head being nearly severed from the body. From the nature of the injury witness thought death would have been almost instantaneous. Witness ordered the removal of the body to Putaruru and informed the bby’s father.

A verdict was returned that deceased committed suicide while of unsound mind.