“ONLY ONE THING TO DO”

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 298, 10 September 1921, Page 6

“ONLY ONE THING TO DO”

A SOLICITOR’S SUICIDE THE DEATH OF MR; A. E» SKELTON By Telegraph —Press Association. Auckland, September 9. The adjourned inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of A. E. Skelton, solicitor, whose body was found in the harbour off the beach at Devonport on September 2, was held in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Mr. Poynton. S.M. (Coroner). Florence Skelton, widow of the deceased, stated that he had had three or four nervous breakdowns during theix- marrieii life. He had been worried on tho day of his disappearance (August 19), and sho noticed that ho was strange in his manner. That morning he came home from his office (a most unusual thing for him to do), first telephoning to ask her not to go out. He complained of his health, and in reply to her said that it meant an operation, and that his condition was hopeless. He also said that he was worried; that he had Jost his grip of his work, and: could not follow his cases in Court; and that there was only one thing to do—to end it all. During the rest of the day she pleaded, with him to face it out for the sake of the children. By 11 p.nx. he appeared to be more reasonable, and witness tried to persuade him to go to bed. He refused to do that, but said that he would lie doxvn for a while. Witness dropped off to sleep, and when she awoke her husband was gone. He had never before suggested ending his life. Five years ago, when ho had a nex-vous breakdown, the doctors said it was due to his brain. Edward Campbell, chief bailiff at the Magistrate’s Court, said that he had known deceased for about 15 or 1G years, and had had frequent business transactions with him. He called in at witness’s room at the Court a day or two prior to his disappearance and asked him if he ever got pains in the head. Witness replied’ in the negative. Whereupon deceased said, "If ever you do, the easiest way to get rid of them is very simple." Witness told him not to be silly; deceased laughed and left the room. Frederick Baxter, journalist, deposed he was a neighbour of deceased, whom he had known intimately. Witness had never known a happier' family. Warwick St. G. Wilson, partner in deceased’s late firm, stated that when ho last saw Mr. Skelton, on the morning of August 19, he appeared to be quite normal. Deceased had no worries outside of his work. He had been working tremendously hard of late, and witness had several times warned him that he would kill himself. Deceased had no ffhaneial worries and had left his family provided for. He suffered from severe headaches sometimes, and had had several breakdowns, due, according to his doctors, solely to over-work. He had been insured for klooo, since June, 1919. The Coroner’s verdict was to the effect that deceased committed suicide by drowning while in a state of temporary insanity.