THE NEWMARKET SUICIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 177, 26 July 1907, Page 6

THE NEWMARKET SUICIDE.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest on the body of James Paul Huckstep, labourer, found hanging by the [ neck from a tree at Nevvrnaxket, was held at Gleeson's Hotel yesterday afternoon by the coroner (Mr. T. Gresham) and a jury of six. - -* A witness named Dunn stated that he saw Huckstep at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday evening in Newmarket. This, as far as can be learned, was the last occasion on which the deceased was seen alive. Alphonso Huckstep, labourer, stated that deceased was his brother, and was ' unmarried. He was about 36 years of age. They both occupied the same bedroom in Mrs. Meagher's boardinghouse, Newmarket. Deceased had been out of spirits for some time past, this being chiefly due, witness considered, to the death of their mother, five weeks ago. Witness had not heard his brother make any actual complaint, but had asked him the other night about his health, receiving the answer, "I feel bad all over." Witness had never previously known his brother to suffer from fits of despondency, or to make any threats to take his own life. The deceased had gone to work on the Monday, but had been forced to return through illness. Dr. ds Clive Lowe, who examined the body, expressed the opinion that death must have taken place about 10 p.m. on Tuesday. Margaret Meagher, boardinghousekeeper, deposed that the deceased had boarded at her house since January last. He had been much depressed of late, especially since his mother's death. Although cheerful enough on Saturday last,' he had not been well on the Sunday, and, on Monday, had to come back from his work. In a subsequent conversation with witness he expressed fear of what he considered approaching insanity, and asseverated his firm belief that the "spiritualists were around him." He also stated that he had had no slesp since Friday night. On Tuesday he was silent, and seemingly depressed, and declined his meals. Deceased was certainly not the worse for liquor. She had never heard deceased threaten his own life. The jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind.