DEATH OF PRIVATE HILL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3145, 25 July 1917, Page 6

DEATH OF PRIVATE HILL

INQUEST AND VERDICT.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon ail inquest was held, by Jlr. W. G. liiddell, S.H., touching the death of Private Thomas William Hill, whose body was found in the bush near Trentham Camp. Private K. H. Koulston, Or Company, 28th Reinforcements, deposed that on the evening of July 21 he found the body or a man in a clump of birch bush some distance away from camp. The Body was clothed in part of the military denim uiiuorm, putties on one leg, and boots, the shorts could not be seen. A portion, of the puttier was tied round the r.eck, and a part of the putties was hanging to a tree about Bft. high. The body was lying near a stream. Robert William Lawson, attached 'to the Medical Corps, stated that he was in camp on February 7 last and saw tlie deceased on that day at 9 a.m. Hill oomplained ol' not being well, and was waiting for 'the Observation Board. Hiii had been before the board prior to that date—on February 2. He had had an operation performed on the feet for corns. He was also suffering from diarrhoea. Hill was discharged from the the following morning. Witness had no kuowledge that Hill was fick m his hut, No. 58, and had vomited blood. Captain Albert Edward Brown, produced tlie camp file regarding Private Thomas William Hill. . The man came into camp on January 23 this year, and his description was age 35, height sit. 7!in., weight 1401b., occupation carpenter, complexion dark, grey eyes, dark bro« u lmir. The sick list file showed an entry ! on February 2, the nature of Jus ulnoss i being influenza, and he was detained. On the following day he attended all sick parades and was '.excused from duly. On February 5 there was another cm ry on the sick list, the nature of his illness I being diarrhoea. He was excused from duty on that date and the following day. On .February 8 he was marked as failing to attend parade, and was reported missing on that date by the officer commanding the unit. The O.C. in his If tier stated that the man had been in a i'.)orbid state of mind and urged that the police should mSike a search. Ihe-Wel-lington police were communicated with 011 the matter. On February 11 tho officer commanding the unit wrote that lie as instructed, had had a thorough search made of the country around the camp. The company was out m extended order on three successivo days, and made a very thorough search, ihe Court of Inquirv held in connection with, the matter declared Private T. W. Hill to be missing, and that the evidence before the Court showed that tho soldier was in such a state of mind at the time ot his disappearance as to be capable ot doing himself serious bodily harm, even to committing suicide. Fanny is. V. Hill, widow of the deceased," also gave evidence as to tho mental condition of her husband prior ti> his disappearance. Her husband Itnd volunteered • three times before ho draira in the ballot in December last. She was finite satisfied that the body found was that of her husband. The Coroner returned a verdict that Thomas W'illiam Hill on or about ielv rnarv 8 met his death by hanging himself while suffering from mental depression.