PRISONER'S SUICIDE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18920, 8 February 1927, Page 7

PRISONER'S SUICIDE.

INQUEST CONCLUDED

On Sunday, Eric Juhn Barlow, aged 2l\ years, was found hanging in a cell at Pnparua Prison. An inquest was held at the Prison yesterday, before the Coroner, Air 11. A. Young.

Last December Barlow had been sentenced to three years' reformative detention by the Supreme Court at Duncdin, for assault causing actual bodily harm. About eighteen months ago he had been in the Scaeliff Mental Hospital.

At 11.53 a.m. on Sunday, dinner was taken to Barlow. When the warder returned on hour later, he found him hanging by his waist-strap from tho .window frame. Ho was cut down, and artificial respiration was applied for forty minutes. Barlow was then examined by '...- prison surgeon, who pronounced lifo extinct.

It was stated in evidence that do, ceased, when at tho gaol had! given no indication of his intention to commit suicide. He had complained of illhealth, but it had been ascertained that this was a delusion, as ho did not suffer from tho ailment of which he complained. On Saturday ho had told his brother lin was going to commit suicide on account of his ill-health, but his brother did not think ho was serious, as he had said this on several other occasions. Hie Coroner returned a verdict that Barlow died on February 6th hanging himself while temporarily insane. Barlow had been properly looked after and treated while in prison.