MURDER OR SUICIDE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 10, 12 May 1915, Page 7

MURDER OR SUICIDE.

MAN FOUND DROWNED WITH A STONE ROUND HIS NECK. Pku J'KKSS Associaii'N. Auckland, May 11. Tin' adjourned inquest inquiring :n----to ttie circumstances surrounding the death of Frederick Allen Clay, who was found dead in a creek at Hikutaia, on Friday, April 23, was continued at Hikutaia to-day. When found deceased had a heavy stone tied round his neck. Mr Joseph Nathan (coroner) conducted the inquest, and Mr I l ’.. Cleudou represented the relatives of the deceased. Dr. Couzens said he had made an external examination of deceased’s body and discovered no. signs of violence. He considered death due to drowning.

William James Boon (deceased’s partner), known in Hikutaia as W. J. Thomas, stated that he came to N ie»v 'Zealand in October, 1913. He lived in a number of towns, including 1 C! iristchureh. 'Wellington, Hascups. .and Auckland. While in Auckland I witness advertised for a partner to purchase a farm. Clay applied, and they purchased the farm at Hih'w.iia. Deceased at the time had about £l3O and witness had £139. They too. possession of the farm in June, 1914. In January last they had a cr>lic of £sl, and now had a credit balance of £4. The shortage of cash to rows, 'and they decided to insure the house and burn it down to get the money. The deceased (Clay) went and insured the house with the Roval Insurance Company for £l5O. The house was not inspected by the agent Ihe house was also insured by the mortgagee for £250 in the South Bi deh Office. Eventually decea -e i refused to Inirn the house, and the phui was not carried out. Witness last saw deceased on the morning of Tuesday, April 20, at breakfast. After breakfast witness went to work on one portion of the farm and deceased was at the house. Deceased did not come home that evening and witness started to make inquiries. He called on his neighbors and they had not seen anything of deceased. A further search was made on Wednesday, and on Thursday witness informed the police. A party of settlers and the police took up the search on Thursday, and on Friday the body was discovered in a creek running through their farm. The place where the body was'found was about 200 to 300 yards from the house, and the j>ool was about Sto 10 feet deep. There was a stone about 2511) to 401 b weight tied to deceased’s neck with a rope.

Tlie police produced a letter signed by Clay, which he gave to a neighbor on January 10, 1915. The letter was enclosed in an envelope addressed to E. J. («. Scott, and the following was written on the envelope: “From F. A. Clay, to he returned unopened when I wish.” The letter was as follows: “F. A. Clay wishes this note to bear evidence that if anything happens to me it will likely bo by my partner, known as W. J. Thomas, as ho has on several occasions said ho would take my life. This morning he said he would shoot me. I therefore deposit this with Mr Scott.” Witness denied ever making a threat to take* deceased’s life. in reply to Sergeant Wohlmann witness said that he changed his name to Thomas because his real name, Boon, had been ridiculed. The witness was put through a searching cross-examination by Mr E. Clendon. who represented the deceased’s relatives. Ho did not consider burning a house clown to defraud the insurance company a very serious crime. Ho considered that the deceased committed suicide, and sain that deceased was always worrying about want of money, and was continually rowing and quarrelling about the want of cash. He said he was always on friendly terms with Scott. Witness made several statements which were different to statements made and signed by him at the opening of the inquest. E. J. G. Scott, a farmer, gave evidence as to receiving the letter from deceased. He also swore that Boon for Thomas) as he knew him) had said to him 'witness! that ho would kill day and thrown him into the river. Evidence was also given by E. Summers, who said that deceased had told him that if he got into trouble lie would bang himself. At tin's stage the inquest was adjourned for a week.