SUICIDE IN GAOL

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 285, 2 December 1925, Page 9

SUICIDE IN GAOL

PRISONER HANGS HIMSELF. j SUSPENDED IN CELL. AN HABITUAL CRIMINAL. 3 — t Warders taking breakfast to the prisoners in their cells at Mount Eden prison at 6.20 o'clock this morning discovered that William Richard Coughlan, an habitual criminal, serving a sentence of 12 months' imprisonment for indepent assault on a female, had hanged himself by portion of his hammock rope. An inquest was held before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the gaol to-day. Sergeant McAlister represented the police. Charles Edward Spittal, chief warder, stated that at 0.20 a.m. to-day he was present while breakfast was being served to the convicts in their cells. Witness deceased's cell door was opened witness saw Coughlan's body hanging by the neck, suspended by portion of the hammock rope, from a window bar. Witness cut the body down and it stood up, there being a very little space between it and the floor. Deceased had evidently been dead for some hours. Dr. Murray arrived at 0.40 a.m. John Eichards, night watch officer, said that he went on duty at 10 p.m. yesterday. It was his duty to look into all the cells. Between 10 p.m. and 10.15 p.m. Couehland was walking up and down in his cell Witness asked him if j all was well, and he nodded his head. I Witness visited the cell half-an-hour later and deceased was then in his hammock, apparently- asleep. Witness did not look into the cell again until breakfast time ■ this morning. Deceased was sentenced at the Supreme <"ourt in Wellington on December 22. 1023, to 12 months' hard labour and I declared an habitual criminal, for | indecent assault on a female. He was : transferred from Wellington to the j Auckland prison on January IG. 1924. He i had been enraged in li<rht work, cleanine I the prison. He appeared to have been in good health, although he was recently attended by the gaol surgeon for a minor complaint. He was of a bright disposition and had not previously shown signs of suicidal tendencies. ! Deceased was a sinc. R man. aged 32. j His parents reside in Hastings. The coroner returned a verdict of i suicide by hanging.