THROAT SLASHED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 72, 25 March 1936, Page 14

THROAT SLASHED.

TRAGEDY AT HAWERA. MAN VISITED BY POLICE, DETECTIVE'S EVIDENCE. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) NORMANBY, this day. After agreeing to accompany two police officers to the Hawera Police Station yesterday afternoon, Benjamin Speight, a relief worker, aged 63, living in South Road, Hawera, entered an outhouse where half a minute later he was found with a gash across his throat and a razor at his feet. Dr. W. M. Thompson was summoned, but on his afrival the man was dead. At an inquest before the district coroner, Mr. R. S. Sage, Detective Kearney said that, accompanied by Constable Donovan, he called at Speight's home on official business. Mrs. Speight answered the door and ushered the police into the kitchen, where they found Speight. The police briefly stated why they had called, and Mrs. Speight said she and her husband knew the reason. At witness' suggestion Speight agreed to accompany the police to the station, so that the matter could be fully discussed.

Detective Kearney said he gave instructions to Donovan to bring the car to the gate. In the meantime Speight, with the permission of witness, entered the outhouse. Witness accompanied Speight and waited about four feet from the door of the building. Half a minute later lie heard a swishing sound. He rushed into the building and found Speight with a gash across his throat and a razor at his feet.

"Speight was not in custody on any charge," said Detective Kearney. The police had called to interview him and had no authority to search him. He was not aware that Speight had a razor, and it was not until af tor wards that he learned that Speight had previously threatened to take his life.