SUICIDE BY HANGING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 2, 3 January 1934, Page 3

SUICIDE BY HANGING.

COMMENT OF CORONER. A verdict of suicide by hanging was returned at the inquest held this morning into the deatli of Archibald James Smith, aged 52, who was found dead at his home last Sunday. Evidence was given that deceased, who was married, but living apart from his wife, had for the past seven months been living at 17, West Street, Newton. He was last seen alive at 1.30 on Sunday afternoon by his sister. When she returned to (he house shortly before four she found her brother hanging in his room. Deceased had been a temporary constable for about two years and had been worried about losing his position. He had complained recently of sickness. "The only comment I have to make is that when anyone finds a person hanging, they should immediately cut the body down," said Mr. Wyvern Wilson, the coroner. "It may make a difference of life and death to cut them down promptly. There was some little delay in this case, but fortunately that did not make any difference. This man committed suicide by hanging, and when the woman told her daughter to go for the police, and even when the police and doctor got to the house, he was not immediately cut down. He was examined by the doctor while still hanging there."

A verdict of suicide by hanging was returned.