DROWNED IN WAIKATO

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 784, 3 October 1929, Page 1

DROWNED IN WAIKATO

TE RAPA FARMER’S SUICIDE

WIFE IN HOSPITAL From Our Own Correspondent HUNTLY, Today. The body of a man, subsequently identified as that of Mr. Kenneth MacDonald, farmer, Te Rapa, was discovered in the Waikato River at Huntly yesterday morning. An inquest was held this morning: by Mr. Frederic Harris. The body was found by Mr. Albert Henry Martin, retired accountant, who was rowing 1 in the vicinity of the Waikato Shipping Company’s mine. He immediately informed the police, and Constable J. V. Leslie recovered the body and removed it to the Airs. M. A. Ferguson, wife of Mr. A. M. Ferguson, farmer, of Te Rapa, identified the body as that of a neighbouring farmer, Mr. Kenneth MacDonald, 52, of Te Rapa, a married man with one child, a girl of six years. Witness said that she and her husband took deceased’s wife to the Hamilton Hospital on September 8, where she is still a patient. Mr. MacDonald, who did not bid his wife good-bye on that occasion, did not accompany them. On their return from the hospital Air. MacDonald remarked that “milking cows is no good to me. I don’t know how I am going to get on. It is only a job fit for colonials.” Air. AlacDonald was- upset and that was the last time he was seen alive. On ringing up the following day and receiving no answer, Airs. Ferguson visited the farm, but there was no sign of Air. AlacDonald. The police were then advised that deceased was missing. The body was identified by the clothing and new gum boots. AlacDonald was blind in one eye and feared the loss of the other. He was in financial difficulties over the farm, which was on lease, and his disposition was not a bright one. A pocket knife was ail that was found on the body. . i Deceased had no known relations m j New Zealand. I The coroner’s verdict was that Mr. j AlacDonald committed suicide by ! drowning in the Waikato River on ; September 9, at Te Rapa, while in a ! state of mental depression.