UNKNOWN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 201, 3 December 1910, Page 5

UNKNOWN

SUICIDE AT PORIRUA. . By Telegraph,—Press Association. Welling ton, Friday. Andrew John Somervilie, an inmate, of PorLrua mental hospital, committed suicide by hanging in a hay loifc last evening. Deceased, who was about) sixty years of age, had been transferred from Napier Gaol in 1!H)1, after being acquitted on a charge of wilful murder. He had no relatives in New Zealand. He was quiet and industrious, and had appealed to the Executive for liberty, and frequently complained that this was not granted him. A verdict of suicide while of unsound mind was returned, no blame being attachable to anyone. FOUND DEAD IN BED. Auckland, Friday. Richard Ratcliffe, an elderly man, waa found dead in bed at a boarding-house with a half-emptied bottle of carbolic acid near the bedside. The landlord last evening made a demand for payment, which Ratcliffe apparently had difficulty in meeting. DEATH IN A TRAMCAR. • " Christchurch, Last Night. At the inquest on Thomas Mitchell, who died suddenly on the Opawa tram last night, the police report stated that the deceased was believed to be a broker, of Elliott street, Auckland. He had only, been in the city for two or three daye, Claude Ferrier stated that he had known the deceased for over twenty years, and yesterday he appeared to be in excellent spirits and health. Medical evidence was given by Dr. Symes that the heart was gpeatly enlarged and fatty, all the valves being more or less diseased. Deceased presented the usual signs of death from heart disease. The coroner returned a verdict of death from heart disease. A MYSTERIOUS DEATH. Waibi, Last Night. Georjge Smart, hairdresser and tobacconist, was found dead in a chair in his saloon. Hie premises had been closed up for two days when,the police forced am entrance last night The circumstances' of death are not rightly known, andi the police are investigating. The deceased leaves a wife and young family.