SUDDEN DEATH.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 292, 13 June 1929, Page 5

SUDDEN DEATH.

AT ARAPUNI. Distressing Fatality. A sudden death under sad and distressing circumstances took place at Arapuni on Thursday morning, the victim being Mr. John Hoey Moore, aged 39 years, a motor mechanic employed by Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth Ltd.

The circumstances surrounding his death are given in the report of the inquest. The deceased, who was exceptionally well and favourably known in the Arapuni and Putaruru districts, was a married man, and to his widow and two little sons, aged four and two years respectively, the sympathy cf all will be extended.

The inquest was held at Arapuni on Thursday afternoon before Mr. J. W. Barr Brown, J.P., coroner. Constable Murphy, of Putaruru, conducted the inquiry. The first witness was Mrs. Isabelle Barnett, who gave evidence of identification, though she had not seen the deceased for some time past. She had spoken to him on the telephone on the Tuesday evening prior to his death, when he said he was well. He had been five years in uniform, and though wounded at the war he suffered no ill effects therefrom. His home life was perfectly happy. He had sold his farm and was preparing to live in Arapuni. He had been in the district for 20 years and was highly popular. Witness knew of no reason why deceased should take his life.

Walter Albert McPherson, a labourer, deposed that the deceased was his foreman, and he last saw him alive on the morning of the 6th. The time was about 7.30. Deceased was then in the blacksmith’s shop. Mr. Owen Clark and witness went into the store, the former asking, “ Where is Jack?” (the deceased) to which witness*replied, “ Out in the porch.” A few moments later witness entered the garage and saw deceased lying across a couple of 9 by 2’s. Witness called for Clark and they placed deceased on his hack. Clark tried artificial respiration, witness ■>ssistimr, but without avail. The deceased was then placed on a lorry and taken to the Arapuni Hospital. Tn the opinion of witness Moore was dead when witness first saw him on the floor. The deceased had a mark on the right cheek, due, he believed, to the body falling on to the timber. Later on, proceeding to the garage, witness found a bpttle (produced) marked poison. This was kept in the workshop. A note on a piece of brown paper was also found. Thig contained the words “ My brain is going,” together with the deceased’s signature. Witness had always found Moore to be a good workmate, even tempered, though inclined to worry over trifles.

Owen Ralph Dalton Clark, storeman and motor driver, gave evidence corrobative of the above witness, adding that the deceased must have "one into the workshop as he had the key of it and it was locked on the previous evening and it was open on the morning of the 6th. Witness also naid a fine tribute to the deceased as a workmate and a man. Dr. S. L. Haslett, of Putaruru, gave evidence as to making an examination of the hody, on which there were no marks of external violence except for a slight abrasion on the cheek consistent with a fall against some object. Witness could not detect any smell suggestive of taking poison. The general appearance suggested that death had been instantaneous and could have been caused by the taking of strong poison. The immediate cause of death appeared to be cardia syncope.

Roland Hen”v Hall gave evidence to the effect that he recognised the bottle produced and he gave details as to its use.

The coroner returped a verdict that the deceased died from self poisoning while suffering - from temporary derangement of the brain.