INDECENT LETTERS.

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1927, Page 5

INDECENT LETTERS.

Writer’s Suicide. FEAR OF PROSECUTION. (Per Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, Jun.e 17. An inquest regarding the death of Walter Hill, hotel porter, who was found dead in at 34 St Paul s Street, on the evJ'n’ing of June 7, was held to-day? Florence Kerr said she let a room to deceased on June 7, and he went home about 10 o’clock at night, and at about 11.15 witness’s attention was at traded by a strong smell of gas. She found deceased sitting in a chair near a stove, with an overcoat ■ over his head, and a gas tube lying on the floor. The gas was turned on, and deecased was apparently dead. Detective White said he had been making inquiries regarding a number of indecent letters written to .several youths on June 5. The writer made an appointment to meet one of ’he youths outside the Queen Street .heetre on the evening of June 7. Acting under instructions, the boy kept the appointment, while witness watched. The deceased, who was known to the boy as Goodwin, approached and was accosted by witness. Deceased later admitted that he was the person who had been writing the indecent letters to a number of , boys. He asked i was to be arrested, and if there was to bo a Court case. Witness left hnn at his bedroom about 10 o clock. He was perfectly sober, and appeared to be quite normal. Ho did not seem to be distressed in any way, and spoke quite cheerfully. . „<■ The Coroner returned a verdict of , suicide by gas poisoning-