HANGED IN WASHHOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1929, Page 7

HANGED IN WASHHOUSE.

VETERAN OF TWO WARS.

VICTIM OF INSOMNIA.

INQUEST ON ME. A. E. POWELL.

At seven o'clock this morning Mr. Albert Ernest Powell, aged 52 years, Avas found hanging from a rafter at his home in Arawa Street. He was a mechanic in the employ of the Post and Telegraph Department. Mr. Powell served in the South African war, and also in the Great War. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., this morning held an inquest, at which evidence was given by Richard James Powell, son of deceased. As far as he knew his father had no financial worries. Last night he seemed in good health and spirits. He suffered, from sleeplessness, and often got up early to work in the garden. Witness was called at 7 a.m. by his mother, who said his father was hanging in the washhouse. He, with the assistance of his brother, at once cut the body down. Dr. Murphy was sent for and pronounced life to be extinct. His father had a good position, and was in constant work. His father never had expressed his intention of committing suicide, but he had been a bad sleeper for years. It appeared that Mr. Powell got up about 1.30 a.m. and said to his wife that he was going to smoke a cigarette. The body was found by Mrs. Powell when she went to the washhouse. A A-erdict of suicide by hanging Avas returned.