THE EKETAHUNA SENSATION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10583, 14 March 1912, Page 5

THE EKETAHUNA SENSATION

MR R. J. McLEAN'S BODY FOUND

The body of Mr R. J. McLean, Clerk to the Eketahuna County Council, who has been missing since Friday last, was recovered in a deep hole in the Makakahi river, aljout a mile from the Eketahuna township, at ten o'clock yesterday imorning. The body, which was fully dressed, was found by Diver Petersen, of Wellington, who had been specially employed for the purpose of prospecting the stream. The sudden .disappearance 1 of Mi^MfiLeah, who was about- 'forty-eight years-of age, caused a profound-s&nsa-ticnv: iiv Eketahuna,. 'where' he had resided for about fifteen years, and where he was universally respected. He had been Clerk of the County Council for over ten years. He was also secretary of the local Building Society, Secretory of the Eketahuna branch of the . Farmers' "Union, and a member of the Borough Council. Ho married about nine years ago the eldest daughter of Mr Fred Bright, now of Masterton, and ■leaves a widow and three children, the eldest of whom is seven years of age. At the inquest yesterday afternoon, the ovidence went to show that deceased had been suffering from had health, and in the last few days he did not se?m to know ivhat he was doing. The letters written by. him were practically incoherent. A verdict was returned that the deceased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane.