DRANK AN ACID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 27, 1 February 1930, Page 11

DRANK AN ACID.

DAIRY FOREMAN'S DEATH. SEQUEL TO DEPRESSION. & INQUEST AT OPOTIKT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, this day. Mr. J. T. Merry, acting Coroner, presided at ali inquest this afternoon concerning the death of Thomas llcining, ■which occurred this morning. Dr. H. M. Budd said he examined the tody, which was lying in a small depression with a wound in the throat. Uiere was also evidenceVif corrosive poisoning and he thought deceased met his death "through poisoning and the wound in the throat, which, in his opinion, was selfinflicted. - J. R. Sinclair, manager of the Opotiki Dairy Association, said deceased was employed in the factory as managing foreman. He was aged 48 and had been employed 24 years. Deceased was recently laid up with influenza and was off duty for a few .days. With Mrs. Fleming, witness searched for the deceased, who was found by his wife, lhe body was lying in an orchard near the house. A cup containing sulphuric acid was found near by. Deceased was a married man with six boys, and so far as witness knew, lie had no financial other worries, About sixteen months ago, he suffered from insomnia and was off duty about a month. Ho always got on well witlMiis wife and family, to whom he was very attached. His work was always very satisfactory. U. F. Bain, factory employee, a nephew of deceased, snid deceased seemed quite normal at 5.30 a.m. when he went to the test room and got the bottles for witness to take samples. Reuben KnowleS, another employee, said lie spoke to deceased for about ten minutes early in the morning. He seemed slightly depressed and appeared uneasy. Constable Breed gave evidence and the manager also stated that deceased Used acid every day in his work.. A verdict was returned in accordance •with the evidence, the opinion being expressed that deceased took Ins life while in a depressed state of mind.