Pitiful Last Letter Left by Business Man

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 797, 18 October 1929, Page 1

Pitiful Last Letter Left by Business Man

DEAD IN OFFICE VERDICT OF SUICIDE ‘■Everything seems hopeless. . . . Nobody seems to want me or care. . . . Can’t get any business. . . .”—Extracts from a letter left for his wife by Frank Leonard Winter, who was found dead in his Queen Street office yesterday, give his reasons for taking his life. body was found when the police forced the door of his office shortly after midday yesterday, and an inquest was held before Mr. P. K. Hunt, S.M., coroner, this morning. The body was identified by Percy Allen Eaddy, a brother-in-law. Witness said that Mr. Winter, who was married and had three children, had lived in Wellington for nine years, coming to Auckland about eight weeks ago. He was between 45 and 48 years of age. Witness had last seen the man on Saturday, when he had seemed depressed, saying that business was slack and he missed his wife and family. Mr. Winter had been in the employ of Dalgety and Company for some years, but had recently gone into partnership to exploit a patent with which witness was not familiar. John Corbett, caretaker at the Phoenix Chambers, Queen Street, said that Mr. Winter had taken possession of an office in the building on September 3. With a partner whose name witness did not know. Mr. Winter ran a business known as the Rustless Door Pad Company. “At 9 a.m. yesterday I noticed a smell of gas,” added the caretaker. “I could not locate it so rang for the gasman who arrived at X p.m.”

A strong smell of gas from the adjoining office had led to the discovery of Mr. Winter’s body, according to James Prentice McPhail, who also had an office in the Phoenix Chambers. Witness's son had opened the letter box of Mr. Winter’s office and the rush of gas had left no doubt as to whence the smell came. Witness had also glanced through the letter box, and, seeing a body lying on the floor, sent for the police. Constable Hay, of the wharf police, detailed the finding of the body. The constable had forced the door and the body bad been taken to the morgue after it was found that rigor mortis had already set in. The letter left by Mr. Winter for his wife read as follows: My Dear Wife and Children, —

my x-'cci " , Everything seems hopeless. I have made a nice mess of my life. May I be forgiven. God only can say. Nobody seems to want me or care. I cannot get any business. Everything Ido seems to go wrong. 1 wonder if you will be able to think anything of me at times. I sincerely hope so. My brain seems to have completely turned. I would do anything to stay and amend my many faults but it seems impossible. Try and think kindly of me at times if possible. ... On the back of the letter was written' Pauper’s funeral; no flowers; no death or obituary notice; no mourning. May Ibe able to see you where * a list of addresses followed, the names being those of Mr Winters wife, mother, partner and two brothers-in-law. . . The coroner returned a verdict of suicide.