SUICIDE BY HANGING.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 36, 12 February 1924, Page 8

SUICIDE BY HANGING.

BODY FOUND ON TREE. PONSONBY TRAGEDY. The body of William Cain, a single man, aged about 30, who resided at Harding Street, Ponsonby, was discovered last evening hanging by a clothes-line from a tree in a cliff at the bottom of New Street. An inquest was held before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., this morning, when C. H. Smith stated in evidence that deceased had boarded with him since January 11 last. Deceased had worked up till ten days ago, when he injured bis hand. Witness did not notice anything unusual in his condition until Saturday last, when deceased became incoherent in his speech ami strange in his manner. He sent for the police, but a constable who arrived said that nothing could be done unless deceased became violent, and j advised sending for a doctor. This was done, and Dr. Usher prescribed for him, instructing witness to send for him if the patient became worse. On Sunday deceased wandered about in an aimless manner, and was quiet, but yesterday he seemed to become worse. The doctor was telephoned, and said he would come later. The last time' witness saw deceased was at 3 p.m. yesterday. He did not see him leaving the house, and be must have climbed over the fence. He did not take his coat or hat. Hannibal John Marks stated that at 0.30 o'clock last evening he was at St. | Mary's wharf, when a boy came and told j him a body was hanging from a tree ) round the point. He went round and ! there saw the body of deceased hanging I from a tree which was growing about | 20ft above the beach. Witness and a j mate scrambled up the cliff, and found a ladder ngainst the tree. He climbed j up and found the body was hanging by j a clothes-line. Deceased had not been , dead long. Witness did not think that eleeeased had jumped off the ladder, as I he (witness) had to climb out on a branch of the tree to release the body. The coroner found that death was due I to suicide by hanging while temporarily I insane. I