A MIDNIGHT SUICIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 10 December 1907, Page 2

A MIDNIGHT SUICIDE.

EVJDKNTLX PHI4MEDITATKD. has been for years engaged as sexton at lo Ucn ■cmetciv, had committed suicide. He had been living in his cottage in the cemetery grounds up till Thur^•;.)'. »*I, and had been ill lor some liuie i ini , during which bis place had been " porarily filled. On Thursday he ~ !,,„ovcd to Hiss Baker's, where his condition improved slightly. IHs rash act was discovered within a few seconds of its committal.

TiiK inquest: An inquest was held before 11 r. 11, SFilzhcrbert, coroner, and a jury of six at the Now Plymouth Co.irl house yesterday afternoon. The following jury was 'sworn: Messrs. A. A. Ambndge (foreman), J. Tvuttiniore, Grilliths, J. -Uterill, Thvosscll, and 11. J. Gilbert. Hubert Stanton said he had been staying with deceased, his uncle, for a fortnight, on account, of the hitter's illhealth. Deceased had been under medical attention for some time. past. On Thursday last, he was taken to Miss | Baker's.' During his illness his uncle had suffered n great deal of pain, but seemed to keep in good spirits, even joking at times. He was, however, quite prepared for death, and had given witness several instructions as to disposition of his affairs. On Fridiy last Gamlin asked witness to bring his shaving materials to the hospital, and he did so. Witness had not the slightest idea that Gamlin would have taken his life. The (blood-stained) razor pro-

duced had heen deceased's. To Hie Foreman: Saw the deceased on Sunday night at 7.30, and he seemed very cheerful. Dr. Fookes mentioned to him then that the patient was on the improve. To Mr. Malone: He knew the de-

eeased's pocket-book. Tie. himself bought it about a week ago. It

been purchased at deceased's request with nn idea of making an inventory of the deceased's chattels and noting down

his instructions. In the note-book was scrawled, almost illegibly: "Dear Hubert, —When you get this T will ho to give my last account before a. merciful Oh, God, have mercy on my soul. T know it is wrong to do it, hut the pain is so great. I hope T will be bettor off." Miss Tj. R. Tinker gave evidence that the deceased, since being placed in her charge on Thursday, had not been in great pain, more of " general discomfort." On Sunday night at ten o'clock he was more cheerful and bright than usual. Tn answer to her, ho said he was quite comfortable and did not require anything, and she wished him good-night and retired. There was nothing in his manner to suggest suicide. She was not aware that he had his razor with him. She would have taken it away. On Monday morning, about 25 minutes to one o'clock, she was called by Miss McTntosh. Prior to that, a gurgling sound had awakened her, and she was sitting up in bed when she heard knocking on the wall. When witness went into his room his head and one shoulder were over the-< edge of the bed, and his arm hanging. Miss Mcintosh was trying to put him back. They got his head on to the pillow. He gasped about three times and expired. Witness then cycled away' for Dr. Fookes. To Mr. Malone: The deceased had been in pain from two to five o'clock on Friday morning, and suffered a good deal of discomfort up till ton o'clock, after which he was not in pain or uncomfortable. Miss McTntosh said the deceased had been in pain at times, but not constantly. At ten o'clock on Sunday night he was very cheerful. Next saw him at 12.110. She had gone in to give him a drink. Tie was very cheerful then. She give him a. drink. He told her not to come hack again until he rang, as he was all right. She went into' the dining-room, next to deceased's bedroom. Tn about five minutes' time she heard a gushing sound and a gurgling coming from his room. She immediately went hack to the room, and found him with the upper part, of his body hanging out of the bed. From the opposite side of the bed she tried to pull him back. Not being able to do that, she went to the other side, and then noticed a pool of blood close to the

bod. She had thought when she first heard the gushing that he had burst a blood-vessel. As she could not lift the man hack into his bed she called

Miss Rnkor, in the adjoining room. Witness saw the gash in his throatbefore Miss Gaker came in. He died shortly afterwards.

Dr. Fookes said that in Dr. Wylie's absence he had attended the deceased, at about a quarter to seven on Sunuay

evening. He seemed in normal spirits, and there was nothing in his manner to

, »"gfe r est extra precautions being taken. ( In response to a call, he attended at Miss naker's shortly after one o'clock k on Monday morning. His ucck, both ( lore-arms, and ins Hands were covered witn blood, which had apparently come . liom a deep incised wound oil tne rent , side of deceased's neck. The wo °. u , was very deep, and immediately above the joint between the breast-bone lllia the collar-bone, and had evidently been luade by a sharp instrument, it had every appearance of having oeen seli-"fl'cu-d. The instrumented divided the wind-pipe and the main vein trunks ot the nccic-iujunes wliich womd oc sufficient to cause death m a very uuit time, round a razor (produced/ p: UUv concealed under deceased's rj..nt side Ur. Wylie stated that he i, a S oeen at if aeCe!lSC ' a l-«'--^iyior teased s last uiuvm had been o, ~ , that he would I , V""-'**' and i" bed, ,Ki, lhreo "«* reason wlv w-n gbm tlm '< "*> "« to oe able to ,„.t i , "-cover as ~.-.., i ■ lu S L t about aaani 1,1 "greed to be moved e1,,.,,./ , Jl ° J* Hut relit oe much n hk '"-appealed to and body. \v u "! '' , t ;° ,ltUt,UU oS ~li» a iuing was not one which had a I Wo 'thet" *^S ofV 1) oi~ l f i 7 i r iiiiiwuut '" tl'is lecligte^unr l " deU S ai,dlh:lt amount to a trimmm,., • -, M

«&^™ *■*"»«'

deceased had died from injuries selfnmctcd during a period of mental aberration and added a rider that no blame was attachable to the nephew Stanton himngg,,,! the deceased his sliav-