FOUND DEAD IN OFFICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 247, 18 October 1929, Page 10

FOUND DEAD IN OFFICE.

INQUEST ON F. L. WINTER.

A PATHETIC LETTER.

"EVERYTHING WENT WRONG."

An inquiry was held to-day to ascertain the facts connected with the death of Frank Leonard Winter, who was found dead in his office, 20, Phoenix Chambers, Queen Street, on October 17. Mr. F. Iv. Hunt, S.M., was coronor, and Sergeant Argland represented the police, Evidence was given by a brother-in-law that deceased had been in New Zealand all his life, and that he was survived by a wife and three children, the eldest being 13 years of age. Mr. Winter was a partner with Mr. Harold Tarrant, of Wellington, in the Rustless Door Pad Co. Mr. James McPhail, who occupies the adjoining office, detailed the facts (already published) that caused him to call in the police. Constable Day stated that when he forced open the door he found the dead body with a rug wrapped round the head. Nothing had been disturbed in the office.

Sergeant Angland produced letters written by Mr. Winter to his wife, mother, brother-in-law and partner. The letter to Mrs. Winter was headed, "My dear wife and children," and read as follow:—

"Everything seems hopeless. 1 have made a nice mess of my life. May I be forgiven. Cod only can say? Nobody seems to want me or care. ' Cannot get any business. Everything I do seems to £o wrong. Wonder if you will be able to think anything of me at times. I sincerely hope so. My brain seems to have completely turned. I would do anything to stay and amend my faults, but it seems impossible. Try and thinkkindly of me at times if possible." The coronor returned a verdict that death was due to poisoning.