DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9360, 1 February 1909, Page 5

DETERMINED SUICIDE.

CHINAMAN HANGS HIMSJsLP.

Yesterday afternoon Con stable Fitzpatrick received information a.t Marten from Mr O. Kerr, farmer, that the body of a Chinaman had been found by Mr John Pearson, ooe of his employees, hanging to a tree in an orchard at Bonny Glen, about four miles from Marten. At the bottom of a tree from which deceased was hanging there was a bunch of rushes and deceased had stood on these and fixed his ‘braces to the fork of the tree above and then round his neck. Ha also tied a piece of flax to his wrists, apparently with a view to preventing him from assisting himself when hanging. After jumping off the rushes, deceased would have been about 8 inches clear of the ground-. Ha left a note near the tree written in Chinese and on this being interpreted, it was clear it was a determined case of suicide. The orchard in which the body was found is about 100 yards from the Bonny Glen road and there is no one living within a mile and this accounts for the body not being discovered before. Ic was In a decomposed condition and apparently had been hanging for about two weeks. An inquest was conducted by the District Coroner Mr J. J. McDonald at Mar ton to-day. Ah Tom, fruit?rev, Featherstou, interpreted the letter as follows : “1 go everywhere and trouble eveiybody. I feel too ashamed. I can't see my friend. M kill myself, in Marton I got two brothers, want to tell them my heart gone away. I let you know. Don’t you/be too sorry me.”—The letter was addressed to his father Clung Fong, Patea. Wong Gun, fruiterer, Marton, stated he knew deceased whose name was Kong How. He called at his shop about a fortnight ago. Witness bought him a railway ticket for Wellington and he left his shop to go by the first train the following day. Deceased was his cousin and had only been in New Zealand about 5 months. He was 26 years of age. He coutyl identify him by the clothes he wore. The hew braces he hung himself with were purchased by him (witness.) Deceased had not been feeling well hut had made no complaints about his head. John Pearson gave evidence as to finding the body. A verdict of suicide was returned. It is surmised deceased got on the wrong train at Marton and finding his mistake alighted at Bonny Glen or was put off by the guard. He was apparently returning to Marton and took the wrong road.