SUICIDE AT HAWERA.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1917, Page 8

SUICIDE AT HAWERA.

Word was received by the police on Thursday afternoon that a single man named Ernest James Francis had committed suicide at his residence on the Ketemarae road. Senior-Sergeant Till immediately went out, and discovered that the report was correct, and that deceased had blown the whole of the top of his head off. It was ascertained that two brothers, both single, were farming on the Ketcmarao road, and that deceased had been in very indifferent health for some time. llis brother said that about a week ago Ernest threatened to commit suicide, but upon persuasion and a threat that the police would be informed if he persisted in making such a threat, he promised to abandon any such intention. On Thursday both brothers milked as usual in Die morning and deceased afterwards cooked dinner, which (hey had at Die usual time. Albert then went out to do some work on the farm, leaving Ernest in the house. He returned to the house about 3.40. and then found deceased lying dead on the floor in front of the fireplace. There were no firearms about, and it can only be surmised that deceased used detonators or dynamite to commit the deed.

An inquest was held Inter in the afternoon, and a verdict was returned that deceased had committed suicide, whilst temporarily insane, by exploding a detonator or dynamite in his mouth.— Star.