A FIREMAN SUICIDES.

Grey River Argus, 16 May 1912, Page 1

A FIREMAN SUICIDES.

— ' - ♦ — FI-REMAN CUTS HIS THROAT. John Lenihan, aged 35 years, ,i fireman 'On the s. 5 Waipori, cot. V.i ted suicide on Monday at c a.<n. v.\ Westpart by cutting his throat. William Denis, fireman on the Waipori, se©n :by Constable Nuttal, stated deceased . JpJQg<T:*.tlie .WaiporJ at AuGkian don 'the'-Sth: in-sf. as fireman. He had' had very liMe. sleep since they left Auckland. He often 'got out o fhis bunk and walked' about. He had no sleep all day Sunday from the time he came off dulty at 8 a.m. During- the nigh, the was speaking of his brother- in New York and his parents in Castlemaine', Ireland, and at 4 a.m. .on Monday was sitting- on his bunk. Albert Smith, nigbtwatchman on the steamier, said he saw deceased at about 4 a.m. walking about: on the ship mumbling to himself and he asked for the captain and engineers, saying he had charges against 'them. He •told deceased <it was tdo early to see them and asked deceased if he were one of the crew. Deceasd said, "Yes," adding that he joined the ship at Auckland. Smith told him 'to go forward as it was too early ito wake, anybody up and at" 5 a.m. left him standing near .the 'gangway. ■ He remained there for some time and witness called the boatswain to make .sure if he was one of th© ship's men and the boatswain said he was. While the boatswain and himself were.: talking, deceased isaid, "What are you two talking! it. over for?" ,He then went forward and witness did not see him until nearly 6 o'clock, when he saw him lying on the deck, with his throat cut. -He was then alive, but a few seconds later gave a. gasp and passed away. Captain Barroh, of the s.:s. Waipori, said at about 6 a.m. he was notified of what deceased had done, and af ter seeing the .man he sent his third officer for the doctor . ,Dr. Dunn arrived promptly tout found iife extinct. The throat was cut from ! the wa'ndpipe. to- the ear an the left- ' hand side of the neck. Constable Nuttal, who was informed _>y the third officer, called up Dr. Dunn and proceeded to the boat, where ac found deceased lying, with the deck covered in blood and a razor similarly covered lying on the deck near • the body. He had the body conveyed to morgue and searched, finding one small Bible; .in. the trouser pocket. ■ THE INQUEST.' Jn the evening ah linquest was held by Mr. Sinclair,: Coroner, pouching the d©iti, ■ " Sergeant Dew conducted the inquiry on, behalf of the police. Mr. Eyre, Collector of Customs, was present on' behalf of the Marine Department. The evidence was principally, .an endorsement of 'that collected by Constable iNuttal and giyeii above. Denis Faoington, a fireman, added that he hia,d known ' deceased ! for two yeacs prior to his .joining; the Waipori. He was a : fireman on the Northern Co. 's Ngapuhi. As far as witness know , deceased was a single man. John Greeves, a fireman, 'give evidence to show that deceased appeared to suffer ffofn insomnia H© had ■tea- and toast with him' at 10.15 the previous evening, . arid deceased then lay on his bunk reading. . The Coronier returned, a verdict that deceased comniitited suicide while temporarily insane, due probably to • want of sleep.