INQUEST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 270, 3 April 1873, Page 6

INQUEST.

An inquest was held before the Curoner, Vincent Pyke, Esq., at the Royal George Hotel, Lawrence, on Friday, the 28th ult., on the body of Robert Louden, who put an end to his life by hanging himself. The following are the dapositions of witnesses :—: — Rose Gunn said : I am a miner residing at Lawrence. I recognize the body now lying on view -as that of Robert ' Louden. I have known him since the 9th October last. Deceased was engaged in the coal pit at Lawrence, belonging to Messrs Cormack and Nicoll. On Wedneaday evening last, he spoke to me about some misunderstanding between himself and his wife — that he and his wife were to separate. Deceased was in bed all day Thursday. He said to me that his mind was a little troubled. _ On Friday, he got up before seven o'clock in the morning, cooked the breakfast, and ate his share of it. I left deceased at the workings at a quarter past eight. I then last saw him alive. Between 10 and 11 o'clock, I went to the stable to water a horse. The door of the stable was wide open. When I got within 4 yards of the door, I saw the body of deceased hanging by a rope to one of the rafters. 1 gave the alarm. One Kelly and another man came up and we went in together. Not more than a minute could have passed between my first seeing the body and my going in. Kelly eyamined the body. I did not, but I could see no signs of life in it, ' I did not wait to see the body cut down, but went to the police station to give information^ . I was too excited to cut the body down. Deceased had not had any, quarrel with the men about the

works that I know of. Deceased would take a glass sometimes, but I never saw him the worse for drink. Thomas Kelly being sworn, deposed : I am a laborer residing at Lawrence. lam at present employed at the brick works in connexion with the Lawrence coal pit.. I recognize the body now lying on view as that of Robert Louden. I saw deceased yesterday morning, going to and near the shaft. Deceased had been previously complaining of pains in his chest. I asked him yesterday how he was, and he replied, " a man may as well be dead." No further conversation passed between us then. 1 next saw deceased about 10 o'clock going into the stable. That was the last time I saw him alive. I next saw deceased about 1 1 o'clock. At that hour the witness Gunn called out, " Oh, such a sight," pointing at the same time towards the stable. I and another ran to the stable. I there saw deceased suspended by a rope from a rafter. The head of deceased was about 18 inches from the rafter, ond his feet were about three feet from the ground. I felt the body of the deceased and the pulse. There was not then any life in the body. The body was quite cold. I told Gunn to go for the police, and I got up a ladder and cut the body down. Not more than a minute and a half passed between Gunn giving the alarm and my cutting the body down. Deceased seemed to be about 50 years of age. I never knew of deceased having any quarrels with draymen about the works. Edward Morton then deponed — I am a sergeant of police stationed at Lawrence. About 11 a.m. yesterday, the witness Gunn came to the police station and informed me that a man had hung himself at the coalpit, and there T saw the body of deceased lying on its back on the ground. I examined the body, and found it quite cold. There was a rope (a horse's halter) with a running noose on deceased's neck, with a knot under the right ear. The rope was slack round the neck. I searched the body and found a sixpence on it. I then had the body removed to the Royal George Hotel. The jury returned a verdict to the following effect : — " That the deceased hanged himself while laboring under a fit of temporary insanity."