THE SHOWMAN'S SUICIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 17 June 1914, Page 8

THE SHOWMAN'S SUICIDE.

PATHETIC NOTEBOOK ENTRIES.

CORONER'S INQUKU' < .ONCJLUIffiD.

The inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Willuini Clarke, a showman, who died at the Red House Hotel on Monday nncier circumstances pointing to suicide, was concluded yesterday, before Mr A. Crooke, S.M., 'district coroner.

Edwin Whittle, licensee of the Red House Hotel, pave evidence alonir tlhe lines of Ms statements as published yesterday. "During the time he was staying at my house," he continued, "Ms manner was that of an ordinary sane individual. There was nothing' about him that would suggest iiito-mneraneo or intemperate. liclkU He complained on several occasions about the lack of business he was doing at the show, attributing this to the bad stand he bchl there. Last Sunday evening at seven o'clock 1.0 complained to mo about having very violent pains about; the stomach. He said lie did not know when he ever really felt so ill. 1 asked him what he attributed 'the pain to—if it was anything he had catenh-and line said it might iliavo been the salmon he bad eaten for tea. I said I thought that could hardly be so, as none of the other boarders fluid complained about it. T suggested that he might take a little drop of Ilcnnessy's 'T.h.ree Star' brandy, which ho did, in any office. He then went away, and returned in aimut an hour's time—about 8 o'clock. He came into my office to .settle 'his 'account, am' made arrangements to be cabled in time to caftfli the train, and to have an early breakfast at C.30 next morning. He was going to the. Pa'nierston -bow, where he bad booked That was tho last T saw of Vm. T instructed t'u> porter to call him at 0.30 in the morn- | ing." Albert Matthew; pave- evidence as t« having called tho. doeoas'-d .on Moie'iiv morning. lie said: "l first called him at: a quarter lo six in the morning. T received a reply, 'All riitht.' I went on about my work, and at 0.30 T noticed that he bad not come downstairs. T again went to bis. room, knoekina at the door, and told him to .hurry lip— that breakfast was waiting. I received a reply, 'I am r.ot going.' With that I went about my usual wo'.-k. Some lime after 12 o'clodc the <.ame day, T went to his room again. When I knocked at the door I received no answer. I tried the door, and it was locked.. I went round on tho Iwlcnny and looked tbn.nub the window, and "aw that the bed was covered witib blood. I th<m -at iiisi-.;.-the room through the window, and "n----ing up to the bedside T placed my hand on the back of his hand, and' found it to be cold. With that I unlocked the door, locked it again, and came downstairs and gave the kov into the office. I believed the man, to'be dead when T left the room. The police came along shortly afterwards, and took charge." Constable O'Neill pave evidence a" to finding the body of the deceased as described by the previous* witness. He found a razor closed in the bed under his left hip. On a chair near the 'bed was a notebook, stained with blood,containing on the first page the following words: "Monday morning,—With love to all my brothers and sisters, also dear Eva. This is to get awav from all persecution, for I have been drove to this act, and may' the' Lord God forgive. Good-bye to'all. Eva, you get all the money, also all goodsi, and do as you wisih. This is for Mrs Eva Tiee.-»AY. CLARKE." On page 3: "Sunday night, —Good-bye to all. Get you things I have got ring, chain, "etc.—WlLL'' Tage 4: "This i= a rasb act" (the .rest was indecipherable)-. Page f>: "tiive Mrs Clarke her money out of the '' and a few pages further on, "Good-bye to my daughter." In the room wore £0 10s Td in cash, and a Post Oll'ieeSavings Rank book. Oonstaltfo Rou.'ton also gave, evidence. A verdict of suicide was returned, ■(.!■.« coroner .reimirkin>» that there was not sufficient evidence to disclose deceased's mental condition.