AGENT’S SUICIDE

Grey River Argus, 24 September 1936, Page 7

AGENT’S SUICIDE

Inquest on Arthur Naylor MR. A. NAYLOR’S DEATH. An inquest touching the death of Arthur Naylor aged 60 auditor and Commission agent of Greymouth, whose body was found on the sea beach near the Seven Mile on September 13, and who disappeared on the night of September 7, was concluded at Greymoutli yesterday before the Coroner Mr. 11. Morgan S.M. Sergeant J. Isbister conducted police. proceedings. Dr. H. S. Ray, stated that at the direction of the Coroner he conducted a post mortem examination on the body of deceased on September 1-1. The body showed evidence of infmer Mon in water for several days. It was considerably knocked about, there being extensive fractures of the skull, ribs and limbs. These were all post mortem injuries. A further examination showed chronic degineration of fion showed chronic degeneration of the liver; the lungs were full of fluid the heart was empty, and the stomach contained an undigested meal. There was evidence by the state of ihe lungs and heart that death was due to drowning. Diabetes would have an effect on bis mental state. It would cause him mental worry and he would be la hie to attacks of coma.

Airs Ruby Prene'Cooper residing nt. 31 Shakespeare Street, said that for the past three years deceased had hoarded at her house. Witness last saw deeeasd about 6.30 p.m. on September 7. when he was having his dinner. .Deceased came home about 6 p.m. bur witness did not see him arrive. Deceased came in for his dinner after the other boarders had completed theirs. Deceased appeared to be normal enoying his dinner, and retiring to his bed room. About 8 p.m. she heard deceased leaving his room'. Witness went to deceased’s room the following morning about 8.30 o’clock and found the bed had not been slept in. Deceased's ordinary day clothes and pyjamas were missing. Witness was not then worried at deceased’s absence, as he had been away once previously. She had never heard deceased say anything in the nature of committing suicide. Deacesed' did not appear to be worrying at all. Deceased suffered from diabetes and ate special food. Tie was a very had sleeper and had got up on two occasions and gone back tn the office to work. To the Coroner: Deceased was a man of a cheerful disposition, and never complained about getting worse, Benjamin Edwin Cooper, husband nt the previous witness, said that deceased left home about 9 a.m. on September 7togo to his office. Witness agn'in saw accused about 145 p.m. when after lunch he had a rest and 'left for the office about 3.10 p.m. when he was h's usual self. On tics day. witness thought deceased had had a little more than he should have had. appearing to have had a drink or two. Deceased had a yarn with witness and a clip of ten and then left for work in his ear. About 6.30 deceased came out of his room for dinner, nnd wit-

ness spoke to h'm nt about 6.45. and ho; said he had thoroughly enjoyed liis, dinner. Witness could not sav if deceased came home for ten in his ear or not. Witness usually had a look, but did not. do so on this occasion. On ‘he morning of September 8, Aliss Curr’e. who worked in Mr Naylor's office informed witness that deceased had not turned up at the office and that his car was outside. Witness did not then suspect, that anything had happened. Deceased had been away urevioulsy but had notified witness or his wife when he would be back. On Wednesday September 9„ witness reported to the police that Naylor was miss’ng. Witness knew deceased suffered from diabetes. About a month ago deceased had said he felt well and that, his diabetes was improving. Witness had never heard deceased mention suicide o’, any t'.me. and nothing allaying his suspicion in this direction.

To the Coroner; Deceased was a bad sleeper. Witness would not say deceased was a m'an addicted to drink. Deceased had suffered from insomnia anfli he had put his clothes on and gone to the office on occasions. Deceased had never mentioned on any of these occasions of being on the wharf. Witness knew of nothing that would influence deceased in taking his life, f-to far as witness knew deceased had no financial worries. He never worried. He never discussed h's business with witness.

Marian Amelia Currie. book-keep-aml rypiste in the employ of deceased said' that she left the office about 5 p.m'. on September 7. Deceased was then in the office and was under the influence of liquor. Deceased suffered from diabetes. He came to the office about 3.15 went, out again and came back about 4.15 p.m'. He appeared to ha ve something on his mind, as if he was worrying about something and he wanted to get in touch with a solicitor. He did not succeed' in getting in touch with the solicitor before w ttiess went home. Deceased had asked ■witness to get in touch with a solicitor ti couple of times that afternoon. She had rang, but could not get in touch with the solicitor. She again tried just before .5 p.m'. and informed deceased that she eould not get him. The following morning .September 8. deceased’s ear was parked in its usual place in front of the office. She entered the- building and found the inner door open. Deceased was not in the office. On the inner table, there was a bottle with whisky in it, also a small glass, and another larger one -with water in it. All the keys were in the safe and rhe cheque book was on top of them. Later on in the afternoon, witness discovered that one of the ledgers was missing On the following morning witness discovered that tinother ledger was missing. These were ledgers of accounts of clients. A cheque, and also two statements of accounts were m'issing. The cheque was for .£lB7 10s Rd made out in favour of :he West Coast Farmers Dairy Coop., and was signed by deceased. Upon making Inquiries at the bank, witness was told that payment could not bo slopped on this cheque without Mr. Navlor’s authority. Witness was informed that the cheque had not been presented for payment. Witness knew nothing of deceased’s financial position. Deceased always let witness know if he was away for any length of time. Witness searched the office for a note or trace of where deceased had gone but found nothing. Deceased had never said that fhe diabetes caused him to worry. On September 7 witness saw nothing in deceased’s demeanour that indicated deceased would take h’s life. To the Coroner; Deceased never appeared despondent, worried, or morose. Witness did not know what is was that deceased wanted to see his solici-

tor for. Witness had seen deceased under the influence of liquor before. Deceased’s condition was no different on this occasion than other occasions when he had had drink. Constable P. Swan, Runanga gave evidence of the recovery of the body of deceased from the sea beaeh at the Nine Mile on September 13. Tho body had been washed:up by the sea. The head was considerably mutilated. Deceased was wearing a. signet Masonic ring on which was a compass and square. Of the three stones in the ring, one was missing. On one oceassion about two -.-ears ago, he recovered a body of a man who was a member of "he crew of a steamer in port. On that occasion the river was in steady flood. The body was naked. No clotlrng had since been found.

'■Sergeant J. Isbister slated that o*’ September 15, he received from Constable a gold ring, which the Constable stated came off the finger of deceased. This ring was identified by Uriah John Mettriek. The ring had been handed to the Public Trustee,, who was administering the estate of deceased.

The evidence was clear that the- deceased Arthur Naylor, met his death, by drowning, stated the 'Coroner. Do ceased was apparently a man who .suffered from' diabetes, but this did not appear to cause him any worry. Deceased had not at any time indicated that worrv about, his health caused him to drink. The evidence showed

'hat he had apparemlty no financial worries. He was occasionally liable to take 1 quor, but there was no evidence to show that during the periods hat. he was under the imlue.iee of liquor that he became despondent or depressed. Judications were that he was fully clothed when he left home, except for his collar and tie and he also apparently had his pyjamas on. He had apparently gone to the office and taken some liquor. From the office, important books were missing and there was no trace of them. The girl • clerk had said that deceased' appeared to be worried and during the afternoon had urged her to get in touch with a solicitor on his behalf. Between the time, deceased left the bouse where he resided and disappear cd, there was no evidnee to show what state of mind deceased was in. He m'ght have had drink which cansml him temporarily to lose control of himself, and this might have caused him' to commit suicide; however, there might have been someth'ng in connection with this man’s affairs to cause h'm to worry without showing it to persons he came into contact with. Tf appeared from the mutilated state of the body that he got into the river near the wharf, and was carried down the riv-’r and over the bar. The post mortem injuries were possibly due to h’s body heinr battered on the rocks. “There seems to he no doubt but that he went into the river, —and that for some reason—there is no evidence to

account for it —-had taken his own life. ’ The fact that the books were missing no clothing on the body, and no marks of violence pointing to foul play, indicates that he must have committed' suicide by throwing himself into the ivater. That is the only conclusion I can come to. said the Coroner, who added that, deceased must, have got rid of his clothing and books into rhe water, at the same time, and these may turn up. The fact that deceased had no eloth'ng and that the books were missing indicated that deceased intended to end his life by drowning. The verdict was that on or about. September 7. 1936, at Greymouth, the deceased Arthur Naylor, committed suicide by drowning. v HhtldTMi’» TTaekhur Orwirfc-

Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure