DEATH IN PRISON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20162, 24 January 1929, Page 13

DEATH IN PRISON.

MAORI TAKES HIS LIFE.

TUAKAU BURGLARY CHARGES. A Maori, Manuel Wilson, aged 29, was found hanging in his cell at the Auckland prison yesterday morning. A warder who visited deceased at 6.30 a.m. found nothing wrong, but another warder who called to release him for exercise at 8.15 a.m. found his body hanging by two towels, which had been knotted together and attached to the light bracket over the door. He stood on a stool, beneath which was spread a blanket, so that when he kicked the stool away it would make no noise.

The deceased was in custody on remand until January 31 on a charge of breaking and entering the store of the Farmers Trading Company at Tuakau and stealing two gramophones and 25 records, and also with breaking and entering a motor garage at Pukekoho on December 29, and stealing a motor-car valued at £3OO. When he appeared in the Police Court, ChiefDetective Hammond said accused was primarily responsible for the fire which destroyed the Farmers' Trading Company's store at Tuakau on December 29. The adjoining garage of Messrs. Giles Brothers was also destroyed, the .total damage being estimated at between £IO,OOO and £12,000. An inquest will be held this morning.