THE SUICIDE CASE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 10, 8 January 1913, Page 2

THE SUICIDE CASE.

VERDICT OF TEMPORARY INSANITY. Yesterday afternoon an inquest was lield before Mr. C. D. Sole, J.P., Act-ing-Coroner, touching the death of Herbert Parkes, who was found dead on Monday morning. The following jury was empanelled:—Thomas Grubb (foreman), Archibald Colquhoun Marr, William Barlow, William Gredig, William Massey Diamond, John Edwards. The Coroner explained that deceased had sold the lease of his farm on the Monmouth Road, and purchased a property at Inglewood. After residing on the place for some time, the deceased had evidently thought he had made a bad bargain, for he sold out again at a considerable loss. Besides a banking account, the deceased had a good deal of money in his possession. John Lowe, manager on Mr M. Bayly’s farm on Monmouth Road, Stratford, deposed that ho had known deceased since last spring. He cam© to his (witness’s) house on August lOth last to see if he could accommodate him Tor the night, witness “baching 1 ’ on the farm. Later on, deceased asked witness for work, and on the 12th of December deceased started work with him. Ho last saw the unfortunate man alive on Monday. Deceased had milked a few cows, and he (witness) left for the factory about seven o’clock that morning, and left him. He understood that deceased was going to get his breakfast. Afterwards, he noticed some signs that he had started to prepare the meal, having emptied the teapot. When he returned from the factory at about 8.30, he noticed that the back door was open, and the rain was beating into the house. Ho called out to deceased to shut, the door, but received no answer. He looked into the scullery door and saw deceased lying on his back across the kitchen floor. So far as he knew, deceased was then dead. The body was smothered in blood. He noticed a razor case, but did not look for the razor. He believed that the razor (produced) was the one belonging to the deceased. The throat was cut. and the head nearly severed off. Deceased was of a quiet disposition, and had been fretting about the place at Inglewood, considering he had not made a good sale. i To the Coroner: Deceased had beer trying to re-purchase the farm on the Monmouth Road, which he had previously farmed, but did not think deceased had been successful. Ho was not aware that deceased was well off.

Charles Parkes, farmer, residing near Wanganui, father of the deceased, deposed that his late son was 28 years of ago. It was two years since he had seen the deceased, and he know of nothing which would lead the deceased to take this fatal step. Deceased, to his knowledge, had no troubles—great or small—and he could not understand his action.

Constable Bleasel gave evidence ns to the finding of the body, and removal to the morgue. Sergeant MeNeely stated that he brought deceased’s effects to the police station, and amongst these found a Post Office Savings Bank book, showing a credit balance of £142 14s 9d. He noticed, by an entry in the book, that on October 12th last deceased had withdrawn from the bank the sum of £3OO. And on December 9th last he had re-paid to bis account the sum of £175. It apears, therefore, that in a period of less than two months, deceased had had a loss of £125. He also found the sum of £ll in his clothing. The police knew little about deceased, and he seemed to have been an exceedingly quiet man. In directing the jury, the Coroner commented on the tragic circumstances of the case, assuring Mr. Parkes that the sympathy of the jurymen wore with him and his family in their bereavement. Apparently the failure of the deceased’s speculation in land had preyed on his mind.. A verdict of suicide while temporarilv insane was returned.