MURDER OR SUICIDE?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 286, 12 May 1915, Page 4

MURDER OR SUICIDE?

A MAN FOUNtt DROWNED. A STONE 110UND HIS NECK. LETTER FORESHADOWING A CEJiMIS. Auckland, Last Night. Ihe adjourned inquest inquiring into the circumstance* surrounding the death of Frederick Allen. Clay, who was found dead in a creek, at iiikutaia, on Friday, April 23, was continued at Hikutaia t'odaj(. When found, deceased had a heavy stone tied rouiul his neck, Mr. Joseph Nathan (coroner) conducted the inquest, and Mr. JS. Ciendon represented the relatives of tlej- deceased. Dr. Couzens, said he had made an external examination of deceased's body and disco* ered no signs of violence, lie considered death due to drowning. William James Boon (deceased's partner), known in liikutaia as HV. J. Thomas, stated that ho came to New Zealand ill October, 11)13. He lived in a liumbei of towns,, including Cliristchurch, Wellington, Hastings and Auckland. While in Auckland witness advertised for a partner to purchase a farm. Clay applied, and they purchased the farm at liikutaja. Deceased at tliat time had about .Cl3O and witness .had £l3O. They took possession of the farm in June, 11)14. I u January last they had a credit °! '', iUU ' llow ' a cru( l't balance of £4. The shortage of cash led to rows, and they decided to insure the house aii'V burn it down to get the money. The deceased (L'.av) went and insured the house with the iioyal insurance Company for £l5O. The house was not inspected by the agent. The house ivai also insured by the mortgagee for £250 in the South British office. 'Eventually deceased refused to burn the house, and the plan was not carried out. Witness last saw deceased on the morning of Tuesday, April 20, at breakfast. After breakfast witness went to work on one portion of the farm and deceased was at the house. Deceased did not come .home that evening and witness started to make inquiries. lie called, on his neighbors and they had not seen anything of deceased. A further search was made on Wednesday, and on Thursday witness informed the police. A party of settlers and the police, took up the search' on Thursday, and on Friday the body was discovered in a creek running tnrough their farm. The place where the body was found was about 200 to 300 yards from the house, and the pool "was about 8 to 10 feet deep. T'lere was a stone about 251b to 401b weight tied to deceased's neck with a rope. The police produced a letter signed by Clay, which lie gave to a neighbor on January 10, 1015. The letter was enclosed in an envolope addressed to JO. J. G. Scott, and the following was witten on the envelope: "From F. A. Clay, to J>e returned unopened when I wish." The letter was as follows: "F, A. Clay wishes this note to bear evidence that if anything happens to me it will likely be by my partner, known as W. J. Thomas, as he has on several occasions said he would take my life. Thia morning he said he would shoot me. 1 therefore deposit this with Mr. Scott."

Witness denied ever making a threat to take deceased's life. In reply to Sergeant AVohlmann witness said that lie changed his name to Thomas ibccause his real name, Boon, had been ridiculed. The witness was put through a searcV ing cross-examination by Mr. E. Clendon, who represented the deceased's relatives. Ho did not consider burning a house down to defraud the insurance company a vcrv serious crime. He considered that the deceased committed suicide, and said that deceased was always worrying about want of money, and' was continually rowing and quarrelling about the want of cash. lie said he was always on friendly terms with Scott. Witness made several statements which were different to statements made and signed by him at the opening of tho inquest.

E. J. G. Scott, a farmer, gave evidence as to receiving the letter from deceased. He also swore that Boon (or Thomas, as he knew him) had said to him (witness) that he would kill Clay and throw him into the river.

Evidence was also given by F. Summers, who said that deceased had told 'him that if lie got into trouble he would hang himself. At this stage the inquest was adjourned for a week.