VERDICT OF SUICIDE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1939, Page 7

VERDICT OF SUICIDE

INQUEST ON LATE MR. RIPPON. COURT EXPRESSES SYMPATHY WITH RELATIVES. A verdict that death was due to gas poisoning, self-administered, while financially worried, was returned by the Coroner, Mr E. G. Eton, at the resumed inquest yesterday concerning the death of Alfred Rippon, of Masterton. who was found dead last Saturday in the Odd Fellows’ Lodge Room. The Coroner expressed the court’s regret at the departure of a citizen under such circumstances and extended its sympathy to the widow and family. Dr J. C. Forsyth gave evidence relative to having examined the body of deceased. Witness said he came to the conclusion that the deceased had died from coal-gas poisoning. Death had probably occurred about ten houis previously. Evidence was also given by Constable F. L. Diggle as to having been called to the Odd Fellows’ Lodge Room at about 12.25 p.m. on Saturday last. On arrival there he met Frederick Arnold Davis, who stated that he was the auditor for the Odd Fellows’ Lodge and that he resided at Burgess Road. Johnsonville. Lying on the floor at the head of the staircase was the body of deceased. On examination, it appeared that Mr Rippon had been dead for some time. Mr Davis informed witness that he had communicated with’ a doctor and a minute later Dr Forsyth arrived and pronounced life to be extinct. Davis informed witness that he had arrived that day at about 12.15 p.m. to make the annual audit of the lodge books and had found the body of deceased in the manner he had indicated in his statement. Witness later conveyed the body to Hyde s mortuary.