“DEAR EVERYBODY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 958, 29 April 1930, Page 1

“DEAR EVERYBODY”

CORONER REJECTS SUICIDE S LETTER POISONING OF YOUNG MAN Special to THE SPATE AROHA, Monday. A verdict of suicide by poisoning was returned by the coroner, Mr. J. Motley, at the inquest this afternoon concerning the death of Robert Logan, a young farm labourer. The coroner refused to admit as evidence a letter left by deceased addressed “Dear Everybody.” H. L. Logan, sharemilker, of Gordonton, and father of deceased, said he was told on Saturday evening that his son was very ill at the house of Mr. Wickliff, who lived about two miles away. Deceased was taken to Te Aroha by a doctor. He had worried of late over subjects not know-n to witness. Dr. W. R. Lawrence said he found deceased lying on the floor of the kitchen of the Wickliffs’ home. He was shown a bottle containing poison, and was told by people in tbe bouse that Logan had swallowed a portion of the contents. His condition was hopeless, and death occurred from poisoning early the following morning. Joseph Wickliff, sharemilker, said that Logan came to the house and asked for paper on which to write a long letter, placing it in his coat pocket. A few minuets later Mrs. Wickliff called to witness to seize a bottle of poison which Logan was holding in the scullery. Witness rushed to the rom and took he poiron out of Logan's coat pocket. The latter thrice denied taking poison although it was scattered about the floor. Logan refused to produce the note. Constable Monson produced a letter found in deceased’s possession and asked the coroner if he wished it to be read. Mr. Motley, after silently reading the letter, said he did not see that it threw any light on deceased’s object in taking poison. The letter was not before the court as far as evidence was concerned. In returning his verdict, the coroner said: “The letter casts reflection on certain individuals which I would never allow to be ventilated. I will take a copy of the letter and put it in with the depositions, and ask the Department of Justice whether 1 have done | right in refusing to accept it as evidence.”