A BOY'S SUICIDE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 452, 21 February 1919, Page 3

A BOY'S SUICIDE.

A Roadside «dy. .An determined case o' suicide ZTA-boy, named Norman Walter aged 16 yean, son . of Mr Walter W -ight, dairy expert and produce grader, residing at Papatoetoe, occurred on the TuakauPnkekawa road on Wednesday} and an inquest on the body was opened at Tuakau yesterday by the District Coroner, Mr Cecil Boadley. Deceased, who was an ex-pupil of the Auckland Grammar School. had been employed on his father 8 farm at Papatoetoe. Evidence of identification was given by the father, Mr Walter Wright. He deposed that he last saw deceased at the Papatoetoe railway station on Wednesday morning about 8 o'clock, whilst deceased was driving towards home, after leaving his mother and some visitors at the station. Mr Wright stated that sometimes he had had cause to reprimand his son for careless in neglecting the work on the farm, and he added that about four weeks ago he had occasion to use a cane on him whilst administering punishment, but he did not strike him more than six blows. Deceased made no attempt to retaliate. Since that time there had been no serious difficulty between them. Wstness had felt it his duty to remonstrate with his son regarding his careless, irresponsible conduct. Ho knew of no other cause that would bring about a state of mind that would lead to the boy leaving a message such as he had done upon his school bag., Duncan Campbell, farmer, of Pokekawa, deposed that about 1.30 pm. on Wednesday he saw a boy riding a horse on the main road frem Pukekawa to Tuakau. After he (witness) had had luncb he was again on the road, and noticed a body lying in the scrub on the roadside, On seeing a horse grazing a short distance away, he came to the conclusion that the body was that of the boy he saw riding past earlier in the day. He immediately took steps to communicate with the police. Upon his arrival at the Pukekawa store and post office the postmistress informed him that a boy, evidently a stranger in the district, had purchased some articles of food and a tin billy about one o'clock, and that she had noticed nothing peculiar in his general demeanour. Constable Milbr, of Pukekohe, deposed that as a result of a telephone communication about 345 pm. on Wednesday, he proceeded towards Pukekawa, and found the body of deceased lying in the ti-tree. Investigation revealed that the top of the skull was completely blown off. A single-barrelled shot gun was "lying aloi gside, with an empty cartridge shell in the breech. Alongside the body was a sugar bag containing various articles of clothing He also found a cartridge-belt, containing about twenty cartridges of similar - size to the discharged cartridge in the breech of the gun, and three fish tins, together with a sword bayonet. f He took charge of a school-bag that was attached to the saddle upon the horse, and on the bag was a message, inscribed with a knife or a pin, to the effect that deceased had been " driven to do this." Rev. Charles Porter, Presbyterian Minister at Papatoetoe, said, in response to a telephone message received by the post mistress, from the Pukekohe police, he broke the Dews of the tragedy to the deceased's parents. He got a motor car owner to drive him to Mr Wright's residence, and during the journey the driver informed him that deceased had requested to be driven to Otahuhu earlier in the day, assinging as reason that he waa goiDg for a .. day's rabbit shooting. Witness added that he had had a conversation i with deceased about two weeks ago, 1 and did not then notice anything in his beh ■ viour that would iead witness to tnink be was not coafortable in his general surroundings. Deceased, indeed, had expressed an opinion that he liked farming, and a strong desire to launch out on a more extensive scale. Witness gathered from the conversation that deceased looked upon the action of his father as paviDg the way for him t> fulfil 6uch de.-ire Isaac Gray, farmer, of Papatoetoe, also gave evidence, and said that he saw the deceased nearly every day, as deceased was a great chum of one of his (Mr Gray's) employees. Deceased convened the impression to witness that he was of a bright dis position; smiling frtm morning to evening was his style. The gun found by the side of deceaeed be longed to witness' employer, but Ltd been taken away without "tie employee's knowlt dge. At this staue the inquest wa* adjourned, to be resinned nt tlu Pukekohe courthouse on Monday next «t 10 a m. f in the mcuntime the Otahuhu police to be communicated wi'h, to if they had auj knowledge of dpcea'ed's doings