DEATH OF BOY

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22910, 5 January 1940, Page 10

DEATH OF BOY

* VERDICT OP SUICIDE EVIDENCE AT INQUEST [PBESS ASSOCIATION TZXJSS2AJU-J AUCKLAND, January A.: At an inquest to-day into the death of William Fredrick Laird, aged 15, a farm hand. Mr S. I*. Paterson, Coroner, returned a verdict that Laird died* from gunshot wounds, -self-inflicted. Evidence was given by a chiM welfare officer, "EL W- G. Thorpe, that Laird was a ward of the State, having been committed at Hastings on February 10, 1937, on breaking and entering charges. He was also bef qre the Hastings. Court again in September on a charge of theft, and was then placed under supervision for two years. He had been in severaT institutions, most of which he left after maMng complaints of the treatment. He was later placed ctn a farm in the Auckland dis-; trict, and was subsequently returned as imsuitable because of his temperament. Witness judged Laird as temperamentally unstable, in -view of the number of situations lie had had, the temper be displayed, and the fact that for a period he had in'inind taking Ms own THV», as shown by a letter left just Before the shooting. In this mote Xaird said he hoped that next time he would have a better chance, and that he had heen told that he would/have another sis years under the Government -welfare officer. "Witness denied that he had ever told Xaird that he would be under the care of the State until he was 21.