'THIS WILL BE THE LAST'

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 8

'THIS WILL BE THE LAST'

FATALITY AT FRANKTON. MAN'S MUTILATE: L> BODY. FATHER QUESTIONS WIFE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. An inquest was held at Hamilton yesterday, before the district coroner, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., to ascertain the cause of death of William Andrew McKenzio Thompson, aged 22, railway carpenter, whose mangled remains were found on the railway line at Frankton on Easter Tueeday morning. William Elliott, a factory hand for the New Zealand Co-operative Dja y Company, gave evidence of finding d ceased's remains scattered along the track near the dairy company s timber St Ada' Annie Thompson, wifo of deceased, said she last saw her husband alive about eight o'clock on the Monday He then left home to post a letter, written by her mother, at the Frankton station. He did not indicate how long he would be away. It had been witness' intention to go home with her mother for a few dayß. Her husband did not like the idea of this altogether, as she was just out of hospital. He asked her to put her trip off fori about a fortnight, when he would get Jiis annual leave and they would go away together and both have a good time. Her mother, who was present, expressed the opinion that she should go at once, as she needed a rest. Her husband finally consented to her going, although he did not like it. She ascertained later that he had posted the letter. Kissed Her Twice. Before he left the house witness said her husband entered the bedroom where she was and. kissing her, asked her to forgive him for the argument they had had. She replied: "Yes —I have forgiven you for other little arguments we have had." He then remarked: "This will be the last time," and again kissed her. He then departed. As he left he waved to her from the bedroom door. In answer co Senior-Sergeant Sweeney witness said her husband, met with a motor cycle accident last April. Mr. S. D. Rice, who said he represented the relatives of deceased, asked witness if her husband was normal on the night she last saw him. She replied that he was—perfectly. Her husband had for . some time suffered from headaches, . which were only of short duration. He sometimes went to Auckland at night to see his mother, returning next day. Counsel: Was he fond of his child? Witness: Passionately. Witness was leaving the box, when a man advanced from the rear of the Court, and, announcing that he was the father of deceased, said he would like to ask a few questions. In answer to him, witness said there was no serious difference between her husband and herself on the night they parted. She did not think it probable that he intended to go to Auckland that night, or he would have mentioned it. Ho was undoubtedly grieved that she should be going away. The Father: Did ray son act on impulse?— Yes, at times. Then do you think it improbable that he suddenly made up his mind to go to Auckland to see his mother to get her to come down next day? Witness: I do rot think it probable, as he was not dressed to go away, and he had no money with him. Neither had he his railway pass. The Father: Would he not be perturbed if lie suddenly boarded the train and then found himself without money or his railway pass ?—Yes, he would. The Father: He was of a daring disposition, was he not? —Very. Open Verdict. The coroner remarked, that the evidence did not carry the matter any further. There was nothing to show how deceased met his death. It may have occurred in one of many ways. He may have dropped dead or met with an accident. He found that deceased died on April 21 at Frankton and that his body was found in a mutilated state on the railway line.