EXCESSSVE DRINKING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 278, 24 November 1898, Page 6

EXCESSSVE DRINKING.

On Nov. Ist an ainquesfc was held at Gleeson's Hotel before Dr. Philson and a jury to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of Joseph Shivnan, blacksmith, on October ' 30th, at the residence of his brother, Chas. Shivnan, Rutland-street. Mr Benjamin Alexander was chosen foreman of the jury, and Sergt. Gordon represented the pclice. Chas. Shivnan, brother of deceased, said deceased was a native of Ireland and had been in New Zealand 3£ years, most of the time in Auckland. He was a healthy man, but his habits were intemperate. He was often absent from his. work through drink. On the evening of Saturday his' brother imagined he had sent for the police to arrest him. He never heai-d his brother talk about suicide and he had no reason to suspect that he contemplated such ao act. He was of opinion excessive chinking was the cause of the act. Deceased worked on Saturday up to l p.m., the hour oil closing the shop. Dr. King, who was called in at 7 a.m. on Sunday, said at that time deceased appeared to have been dead about an hour and a-half. He found an incised wound li inches long on the right side of deceased's neck. The wound was also lh inches in depth, and this caused a tremendous discharge of V'ood. He picked np a pocket-knife near deceased. Dr. King thought the wound was self'inflicted. Deceased had been a strong healthy man. There was no amell of liquor on him on Sunday morning.

Sergeant Gordon was also examined

The jury returned the following vtir-dint:-—That deceased committed suicide by cutting the carotid artery while temporarily insane from excessive drinking' ■