INQUEST AT TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1826, 8 December 1888, Page 2

INQUEST AT TEMUKA.

An inquest touching the death of William King was held yesterday morning, at 8.30 o’clock, in the Temuka Hotel, before 0. A. Wray, Esq., Coroner, and the following jury, viz., Messrs McS. Gentlemen, H. T. Clinch, 0. Oliver, H. Monaghan, J. Cooper, and W. Storey. John Haar : I am a laborer, living at Winchester. Was employed shearing for Mr Kennedy on the sth instant, on the tiangitate Island. I knew (he deceased W. King. He was shearing for Mr Kennedy on that day. 1 got there about 4 p.m. on Wednesday, The deceased was then shearing. Tea was then brought into the shed, and the deceased had some >ea like anyone else. After tea the men began sharpening their shears, and 1 hoard a man named Logan sing out “ King, what are you doing t ’ and “Haar, catch hold of that man.’ I looked at King, and he was then pulling the shears out of his throat. He was standing two or three feet from me, and bleeding profusely. Before I could do anything, he made for me and the others with the shears, and put twofof his fingers into the wound. He chased us out of the shed. There were three of us, T tried to get into the the boose again, behind him, but he met me at the door. He again stuck the shears into his throat and stepped out into the yard, and, Logan and I went towards him. Logan got the shears out jof his hand. He then fell down in the yard. I rode away and telegraphed for the police and a doctor to Constable Morton. I bad to ride about four miles. I left about twenty minutes past four o’clock. I went back again. The deceased was shifted into the chaff-house. He was lying on some bags on the floor. Ha was alive then. Logan wag looking after him. He was bandaged up, and the bleeding was stopped. He died about 12.15 that night. He never spoke. He seemed to be conscious. I knew him before. I believe he drank sometimes, but never saw the man drunk. I know no cause for what he did. He was peculiar in his ways. Sometimes be would In k, and at other limes he would say nothing. He was a married man, and was about 40 or 45 years of age. His wife lives at Dunedin. He bent the shears open and stabbed himself with one blade. He bad no quarrel with any one. He had just taken a cup of tea and a scone. He was bleeding from the mouth, nose, and the cut. John Logan, farmer, residing at Orari: I was engaged at Mr Kennedy's shearing on last Wednesday, the sth Instant. I never knew King before the previous evening. We slept in the same room. He said he had lust big sheds on account of the few sheep there. There was nothing peculiar about him. We worked together next day, and he worked herd, and there was nothing peculiar about him. About 4 p.m. we took lunch, and we were all sharpening our shears when my attention was attracted by the noise. It appeared to me at first that he was sick, and had his fingers in his mouth. When 1 looked round he had the shears right through his neck, and ho gave them a wrench. The shears were opened out, and only one blade was in his throat. I called out “ What are you doing ?” and he made for me, and we all rushed out and jumped over the yard. We tried to get into the shed behind him, but be met us at the door. He gave himself another cut then* I went up to him and took the shears away and threw them into the paddock. He then fell, and we took him into the chaff-house. [ tied a towel round bis neck, and put a pillow under his bead. He died about 12 o'clock. When Mr Haar and Mr Kennedy went away, the deceased got op on his knees and put a hand in his pocket and took out a knife. 1 took the knife out of his hand. He could not speak, but made a gurgling noise.

Constable Graham stated that be went to (he Rargitata on Wednesday evening. Got there at 9 p.m. Deceased was lying in the chaff-house on some bags. His throat appeared to be cut straight across, He was struggling a lot with his hands, trying to get to his throat. I tied them to his side. . He was not bleeding then. There was a pair of scissors in his pocket. Ho died about 12 o’clock. Ho seemed conscious. I inquired from Mr Palmer, bis father-ia-law, about him, but he is a man of 70 or 75 years of age, and was very much put about over it, and I could not get very much out of him. The deceased’s wife bad been living away from him for some time. I removed the body to the Star of the South Hotel.

Dr Hayes said he saw the body of the deceased, and made a superficial examination. The cut across the throat was about four inches loot;, severing the windpipe. The chief blood vessel escaped, but numerous other vessels were cut. What he saw was sufficient to cause death, owing to the shock of the system and also to blood entering the lungs. He would have had a better chance if be had had medical assistance. Unskilled aid could do nothing. If a surgeon bad been there in time he might have saved his life, but it was doubtful.

To Constable Morton : I remember being asked by the police to attend, but I was attending a confinement and could not leave ; besides, there was no one to guide me over the ford of the Rangitata. I could not have got there until 9 p.m.,and I could have done no good then. 1 had four hours to spare, and could have gone if 1 were sure of getting back. 1 arranged with Constable Morion to go next morciug. This concluded the evidence and the verdict of the jury was that the deceased committed suicide while suffering under temporary insanity.