A HAVELOCK TRAGEDY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3382, 10 January 1920, Page 5

A HAVELOCK TRAGEDY.

' LOVE SICK YOUTH. TAKES ‘HIS OWN LIFE. The circumstances in regard to the death of Darcy Lee Mclzlanawa-y, 19 years of age, whose body was found hanging in a shed at Havelock, were revealed at the inquest, the particulars iof which had been received by the {Superintendent of Police. I The- evidence given was to the effect jthat the deceased became enamoured of a young lady at Havelock, and de;sired to keep company with her. It ‘appeared that he was not encouraged, and he informed the young lady in question that he would commit scuicide by shooting himself if she did not agree to become ‘his Sweetheart. On December 19 the ‘deceased attended a dance, and amongst. those present at the function was the young lady, who was escorted by. another man. The following morning the deceased was despondent, and refused breakfast, giving as a reason that he did not feel well. Mr James Jones, his employer, invited him to go to Blenheim inia motor car, and the deceased replied that he would accept the offer, A few minutes later he was seen walking in the direction of the shed. That was about 8.45 o’clock on the morning of December 2th, and at 11.15 o’clock Philip Vercoe, a. fellow-employee, went across ‘to the shed to ascertain if McManawtty had gone to sleep there. On entering‘ the building he found the deceased hanging by the neck and dead-. A FAREWELL MESSAGE. The rope by which the ‘deceased was hanging had been passed over a beam in the shed ten feet from the ground. On one end was a running noose, which was placed round deceased’s neck, and the opposite ‘end of the rope had been secured to a wooden pin in a post_ The deceased had, app£'r’é'l‘fiTy mounted the side of a horse stall 4ft Gin high, and and then jumped. His feet were three inches from the ground. Written in peiicil on the wall of the shed was the following message: “Dear -~—-, good bye. Hope your life‘ will be '3. happy one. Goodbye, sweetheart.”