“BETTER DEAD THAN MY LEG OFF”

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 122, 8 February 1923, Page 4

“BETTER DEAD THAN MY LEG OFF”

ELDERLY MAN’S SUICIDE FAREWELL NOTE TO EMPLOYER . “Forgive me. lam no longer able to be of any use t<. you. I cannot work. . . . You have been too good to me to live much longer. I shall go mad with pain. I could not work, and I wanted your place to look nice. . . . Better dead than my leg off- . . . God bless you and the children.— Alf.” This letter was addressed to his late employer by an elderly labourer, named Alfred Johnston, the circumstances of whose death were investigated by the Coroner (Mr. W. G. Riddel], S.M.) yesterday afternoon. The police were represented by Senior-Sergeant O’Hara. The discovery of the deceased’s body at Oriental Bay late on Monday was described by George Alexander Murdoch- “As I was proceeding home at 10.15 p.m.,” said witness, “I saw a man lying on a seat on the Oriental Bay Parade, near tho band rotunda. His attitude attracted my attention, and I looked at him twice. I saw a medicine bottle alongside him, and. the smell suggested that it contained cough mixture. I shook him. but he did not move, and I discovered that his hands were cold.” Satisfied that the man was dead witness informed the police. Dr. Hector said that as the result of an examination of the body, the stomach was extracted and forwarded .to the. Dominion Analyst for analysis. Evidence concerning deceased’s identity was given bv Henry Dargaville who had employed the man for tli/ - past eight years. Of late the deceased, who was 64 years of age and a single man. had frequently stated that he would be better dead. Before the discovery of the body witness had found a note, in which deceased declared his intention of doing away with himself. Ho had been suffering from a bad leg and had entertained fears regarding its possible amputation

Tho Coroner said that there was no doubt that tho man had committed suicide, but there was not sufficient evidence to establish the nature of the contents of the bottle. Th? inquest would bo adjourned until the report of the Dominion Analyst was available.