TRAGEDY AT TEMUKA.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15955, 17 July 1917, Page 4

TRAGEDY AT TEMUKA.

TOWN CLERK FOUND DEAD

On Saturday afternoon the Town Clerk of Temuka (Mr E. Cutten) wus found dead at his home.

There had been a meeting of a committee of tho Temuka Borough Council on Friday night, and Mr Cutten was not present afc this. It was not. incumbent on him to be there, though he usually attended such meetings. It was known that ho was somotimes too unwell to go out at night, and no particular notice was taken of his absence on Friday night, it being merely thought that ho had felt too unwell to be out; and it was known that he was a sufferer from Bright's disease Alarm was occasioned, however, when he did not put in an. appcarance at the Council Chambers on Saturday morning, and at noon two councillors decided to go to his homo and ascertain whether he was ill. On arriving at. his house they found tho placo locked, so the.y entered through a. window, and on making a search of the place found Mr Cutten lying dead on the floor of the kitchen, and the gas in the room turned on. He had apparently died from suffocation.

Mrs Cutt'en. was away at Hanmer, and Mr Cutten had been living by himself during her absence. Deceased ha<l been Town Clerk of Temuka for the past seventeen years, an office which ho filled with entire satisfaction both to tho Council and the ratepayers. Prior to this ho occupied a responsible position in tho Baiik of Jsew South Wales. Though reserved in manner Mr Cutten was always a, most courteous and afFablo man, and his friends received a very painful shock when they learned of his death. Ho was born at Dunedin m 1862, being a son of the late Mr Cutten, and grandson of the late Captain Cargill. He was educated partly at Dunedin and partly i n England, and was trained as a banker. Mr Cutten married M'r.s Mendelson, widow of tho late Mr Julius Mendelson. Some vears ago ho was an enthusiastic military man. In 1880 he became lieutenant of the TemuKa Rijfles, and was elected oaptai n in 1891. After some months in tho District Reserve Corps he was appointed quartermaster of tho South Canterbury Battalion in. 1897. He was a man of independent means, but lived a secluded life apart from his work <is Town Clerk, which he at all times discharged conscientiously and well.

THE INQUEST. At tho inquest held yesterday, Alexander FVew, Mayor of Temuka, stated that recently deceased had been j n a bad state of health, suffering from hack trouble, probably Bright's disease. Tliis might hare preyed on Lis inmd

Geo. Hancox, councillor, stated that when they entered the room they found full of gas. Tho body was under the table, the head covered with a thick overcoat and a flexible gas tube leading from the pipe Iving across uno face.

Dr. Rugg said death was caused .iy asphyxiation by coal gas. Tho jury returned, a verdict: { 'Tliat death was caused by asphyxiation by coal gas, administered by deceased while suffering great pain."

On Saturday evening a special meeting of tho Temuka Borough Council was held, tho Mayor and all councillors being present. The Mayor, Mr Frew, proposed, and Cr. Gunnion seconded, a vote of condolence with the relatives of the late Mr Cutten, Towu Clerk, whose death occurred that day. Mr E. Booth was apnointed ActinrrTown Clerk. " °