INQUEST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 232, 24 September 1908, Page 4

INQUEST.

An in(|uesi, concerning the death of John Richard bawson, who committed suicide iby hanging himself on the racecourse was held at deceased's residence yesterday. Mr. 11. S. Kitzherbcrt, S.M.. District Coroner, presided. .Sergeant lladdrell represented the police. The following jury was empanelled: William Jfiikiuson (foreman), Edgar l\ Lister, .Herbert Ward, Jaiue s A. Roberts, Bernard Martin, and Carl O. Sfellinsou.

Matthew Curricle, son-iu-ln\v of deceased, with whom he resided, deposed tlraL deceased wns 71 vears "hi. His li.'alt.U had been very iiidiil'ercnt lately, and hi' luul- Jwen attended by Drs. Walkor and Ulcakley. Witness saw him (.11 Mondav evening, before lie retired 1" rest, aI, S.-15 o'clock. lie was rather brighter tlian usual. Deceased occupied «. room iby himself. When witness got. up yesturday morning lie learn that deceased was not in his room. Witness went out in search of him, and ultimately found liini 011 tin; racecourse. Dcceaseii win in comfortable circumstances and had nothing to worry him. Ropes similar to that used by deceased were kept in a shed in the garden. Jnini's Blowitt, custodian of the racicourse, deposed to having found the body. Deceased's feet,, when witness found him hanging from the tree were touching the ground. One arm was resting on a branch. The body was quite cold and the heart still. Constable Kiordan gave formal endonee.

Dr. Bleakley stated that he had attended tlic deceased for the past two and a-half years. He had aull'ored from serious organic heart disease, and latterly from dropsy. Witness saw him last Wednesday. Jlis condition then was more satisfactory than it had been. Witness had had sonic doubts as to deceased's sanity. On two occasions l.iand another medical man had examined deceased with a view to finding whether he was mentally all'licled enough lo commit him to an asylum. But thov could not get sullicioiit evidence. l',idoubtedly deceased hud degeneration of the 'brain, prohaibly on account of ids heart trouble, lie was of opinion tint deceased had died of heart failure, not from suffocation, The excitement of attaching 1 hi; rope to himself and to the tree wool.l have been quite sullicient to cause failure of the heart's action. Tic neck was not disjointed nor discolored. There were no indications of foul plav. Deceased was not, of a suicidal tendency. Deceased's mind was such that he would not, have been responsible for his actions the preceding day, The jury returned a verdict that deceased hail died from heart failure, while attempting to commit suicide, he being at the time of unsound mind.