PARK LAKE DROWNING CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3095, 19 January 1909, Page 4

PARK LAKE DROWNING CASE.

THE INQUEST. An inquest was held before Mr E. G. Eton, J. P.. at Masterton yesterday morning, into the circumstances attaching to the death o" Isaac Robert Leonard Csrley, whose body was found in the Park Lake yesterday morning. The jury was composed of Messrs Eli Smith (foreman), J.Day, A. P. Fielding, S. Kingdon, D. Finlayson and Frank Osborne. Campbell D. G. Carley, clerk, denosed to the deceased being his brother. Witness last saw him at 5.30* p.m. on Saturday, when he was inhis usual health. He was in the employ of Mr E. Welch, blacksmith. The deceased had not quite recovered from an illness he contracted two months ago. Witness had not heard his brother say he was tired of life. On Saturday night the deceased did not come home to sle'p, though he always slept at home. John Denham, clerk, deposed that he found a cap near the spring-boarcO by the Park Lake at about six. o'clock on Sunday morning. A. R. Maltby, cafe proprietor, said he knew the deceased well. The latter called into witness' shop about 10.30 o'clock on Saturday evening,, and asked for pen and paper, which were supplied, the deceased writing | a note in the shop. The deceased looked very excited, having a wild look in his eyes. John Murray, accountant at the? Bank of New Zealand, Masterton, said he knew the deceased, and was in his company on Saturday night, joining him about 8 o'clock. Wit- • ness and the deceased had«sone or two drinks together, the deceased having "soft" drinks. At half-past nine o'clock witness and Carey parted company, the latter bping then perfectly sober. The deceased did not appear despondent. Katherine Stevens, barmaid ai the ! Club Hotel, said, she knew the de- . ceased, who came into the hotel on. ) Saturday night. The deceased seemied to be despondent on occasions i lately. He was not given to drinKing since witness knew him. On Saturday evening the deceased had drinks with the previous witness, but was himself having lemon squash and soda water. Witness did .not see Carley again after he i left with Mr Murray. Kenneth Milton, the lad who first noticpd: the body .in the Lake, gave I e"idenee as to that fact. Sergeant Miller stated in evidence that hi and Constable Dunn took the body out of eight or ten feat of water v The deceased was fully dressed, a 14 feet bar of iron being attached to the body by a short rope looped round the neck. Two pieces of paper (produced) containing writing were found on the body, one stating that the deceased was "broken-hearted." The deceased had no nwney oji-him. Argyle McKain, blacksmith, employed by Mr E. Welch, said he had known the deceased for some years. The deceased had been employed by Mr Welch for a few days last week. Witness recognised the iron j and the rope at the morgue as I being taken from Mr Welch's forge, the rope being used for tethering horses. This was all the evidence. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide during a fit of temporary insanity.