SUICIDE AT KAIAPOI.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7173, 8 October 1888, Page 6

SUICIDE AT KAIAPOI.

On Saturday morning, at 8.20, the police at Kaiapoi were informed that Mr Robert Graham, a dyer at the woollen mills, had been found dead, hanging to the door of the bedroom of hie house in Hugh street. The body had been cut down before the officers arrived. It was explained that when found by one of his sons, a boy about twelve years, tbat the deceased was suspended by a flax clothes-line, a slip-noose round hie neck, and the double rope passed over the door and fastened to the knob of the door-handle on the other side. The deceased's body was nearly down to the floor. At 4.30 p.m. an Inquest at the Courthouse was held, before C. Whitefoord, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, of which Mr W. Dβ Troy was foreman. The body was viewed at the morgue. James Graham said his mother had been dead some time. He and a brother older than himself lived with his father. He last saw deceased alive at 8.40 on Friday, when he left him near Middleton's Hotel, and went home to bed. About two hours after he heard deceased open the house door and come in. Oα Saturday morning at &15 witness went to get breakfast and passing his father's bedroom door found deceased as described. He exclaimed to his brother, " Surely father has not hung himself." His brother sent him for the police. Deceased used to take the clothes line into his bedroom and his brother used to put it outside again. Had never heard his father say he meant to hang himself. Deceased had been drinking on the day before, and had a drop of drink on Friday. Nicholas George stated he was called in and found deceased hanging as stated. He unloosed the rope' and took it off Graham's neck, but he was then cold and seemed quite dead. Dr. Murray stated he had been.called at 9.30 a-m. Deceased had then apparently been dead two or three hours, death being caused by strangulation. Constable Cartmill stated the body was fully dressed. In his pockets were a threepenny piece, some coppers, and lollies, and letters for Miss Wiggins (deceased's former housekeeper). Onachair was ssld, and more lollies. He had known deceased two or three years as a man of intemperate habits. H. Archer, licensee of Middleton's Hotel, stated deceased had a small glass of beer at 9.30 p.m. on Friday, stayed in the hotel half an hour, and had another small glass on leaving. He did not seem to be in low spirits. The jury found a verdict that deceased was found hanged in his own room. They believed he had committed suicide, but there was no evidence as to his state of mind at the time.