SUICIDE BY DROWNING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 153, 28 June 1907, Page 5

SUICIDE BY DROWNING.

BODY .WEIGHTED WITE STONES, A VICTIM OP INSOMNIA. At 11.30 a_m. yesterday morning the body of Arannah Charles Pelley, of Eden Terrace, was found in the harbour at St. Mary's Point, Ponsonby. The discovery was made by some men who had been working in the vicinity, and, on their information, Constable Murphy proceeded to the place, and had the body conveyed to the morgue. In company with his wife, Pelley visited Dr. Keith in Ponsonby-road on Wednesday evening. . While they were waiting for the doctor in the consulting, room, Pelley suddenly gave some excuse, and went outside. He did not return, and his wife did." not again see him alive.

The coroner was informed by the police at 5 p.m. yesterday, and fixed an inquest, which was held at ten o'clock this morning.

The coroner (Mr J. Gresham) presided at an inquest at Gleeson's Hotel at 10 a.m. to-day on the body of the deceased. The jury of six chose Mr W. Glibberg as their foreman.

Charles A. Pelley, bootmaker, identified the body as that of his father, Arannah Charles Pelley, who was aged 55 year's. His father had been ailing for some four months, and had been subject to depression, which witness considered was the result of insomnia. Hβ had seen his father with a bottle of carbolic recently, but could not state for what reason or use. For the last 15 months his father had been out of business, and witness did not know of any financial troubles. He last saw his father alive at 6.15 p.m. on Wednesday night at his home (in tne New Northroad), just before he went out to visit Dr. Keith. For some time past the behaviour of the deceased was occasionally rather peculiar, and vsitness had been in the habit of -watching him.

Dr. Keith, residing in Ponsonby-road, stated that he had treated deceased for eye trouble and insomnia. The latter qpmplaint seemed to depress Pelley very much, he having had very little sleep for nights at a time. Pelley seemed to be afraid of insanity resulting from the sleeplessness, and could not bear the thought of the asylum. He was of good physique. There were no traces of wounds on the body sufficient to cause death. Witness considered that death was caused by drowning, and that deceased had taken his own life. The acute despondency would tend to affect the mind. Deceased had ne\ er conducted himself in such a manner as to warrant restraint.

Constable D. Murphy, stationed at Freeman's Bay, gave evidence as to the finding of the body, which was lying face downward, the feet sticking in the mud. From the position of the body, witness calculated that deceased could not have fallen over the cliff. Three large stones, weighing , about 31b. each, •were found in the deceased's overcoat pocket, together with a table knife. £ 1 5/6 in money and a bunch of keys waa found in another pocket. The body wa3 immediately taken to the morgue.

The Coroner, in summing up, stated that the money showed that deceased, was in no desperate straits as regards his financial affairs, and thart there could be no suspicion of- robbery. The total absence of wounds discounted any suggestion of death by violence. The jury returned a verdict of death by -drowning, self-inflicted while of ■unsound mind."