GAS SUICIDES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 834, 30 November 1929, Page 1

GAS SUICIDES

TWO MORE DEATHS IN CITY VICTIMS BOTH DEPRESSED Two more cases of suicide by gas poisoning were notified to the police yesterday. Florence Clara Priest, a married woman aged 60, of 67 Clonbern Road, Remuera, was found dead by her husband, and Robert James McKenzie, aged 45, was found by his wife dead in a chair at his home, 69 Ardmore Road, Herne Bay. Inquests were held before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., coroner, this morning, when verdicts of suicide were returned. Charles Joseph Priest said that he last saw his wife at 2 p.m. when he left home for the afternoon. He returned at 6 p.m. and found the house locked up. Finally he forced an entrance arid saw his wife lying dead on the floor with her head in a gas oven. He sent for a doctor and the police. Witness added that his wife had threatened suicide. She was in very bad health / and had been operated on several times. She was in constant pain. WIFE’S DISCOVERY Robert James McKenzie was also said by his wife to have been depressed by illness. Ina Bell McKenzie said that her husband had left home about 7.40 a.m. yesterday to look for work. She had then gone out herself, returning at 2.30 p.m. to £nd her husband sitting on a chair by the gas stove. A tube from a gas tap was tied to his neck by a string and the gas was turned on. Mr. McKenzie had been forced to resign his position as a tramway motorman on account of illhealth and had since been doing only casual work. Constable Doole said that when called to the house he found Dr. H. F. Holmden present. The doctor had said that the man was dead.