“I’M GOING OVER!”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 120, 11 August 1927, Page 13

“I’M GOING OVER!”

LEAP FROM COASTAL SHIP SUICIDE AT TURUA (From Our Own correspondent.) THAMES, Wednesday. “Please send my case to Waihi. I'm going overboard.” This was the message left by Fred Walsh Butler, who was lost from the coastal steamer Taniwha near Turua on Sunday evening, and whose body was recovered at Tapu yesterday. At the inquest held to-day, Constable McClinchy, Paeroa, identified the body as that of Butler, who he had known as a bridge overseer for the Public Works Department, at Paeroa, and later as an employee of the Waihi Borough Council. Christopher Horne, mate of the Taniwha, said he had last seen Butler at 10.40 p.m. on Sunday, when he appeared to be sleeping quietly on a settee. Twenty minutes later, when nearing Turua, witness went to call deceased, but found his bunk empty, except for a hat in the band of which was a note addressed to the captain. Deceased had seemed in good health, although a bit restless. B. Gwilliam, a passenger, said he had conversed with deceased during the voyage. ITe was perfectly sober, but seemed to bo labouring under great mental anguish. A verdict was returned that deceased had been drowned by jLimping off the Taniwha while under severe mental depression.