SUICIDE WHILE DEPRESSED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 August 1925, Page 4

SUICIDE WHILE DEPRESSED.

THE JURY’S FINDING IN ELTHAM~TRAGED Y. ‘•That the deceased committed suicide by cutting his throat while temporarily of a depressed state of mind,” was the jury's verdict at the inquest on the body of Harold Northover, tire late secretary of the Eltham Dairy Company. The proceedings, which were held at Eltham yesterday, were presided over by Mr. T. C. Stunners, J.I > ~ acting coroner, and the following jury was empanelled: Messrs J. D. McKay (foreman), J. C. Walsh, H. P. Best, and R. Payne. John L. Weir, solicitor, of Eltham, said ' that deceased was a personal rriend of his. At about a quarter to four on Wednesday afternoon Mr. W. G. Walkley, a member of the firm appointed as auditors for the company, came to his office and asked if he had seen anything of Harold, stating tnat h e had had ail appointment with him to complete the annual audit. Thinking it a little odd, witness suggested that they should go down to the house. On arrival at about 4 p.m. they tried all the doors and found them locked, but witness gained access by a pantry or store-room window next the back door. Coming out of there the first door was that of the bathroom, and, looking in there, he found deceased lying on his lace in a pool of blood, an open razor, which had evidently fallen out of deceased’s hand, was in the bath. Witness saw that Mr. North, over was quite dead, so immediately called Mr. Walkley in and showed him the body. Both. Constable Townsend and Dr. Cooper were summonSu. There were two letters on the dining-room table, one addressed to the directors of the Dairy Company and one to Mrs. i\ or t hover.

Henry D. Forsyth,, a director of the Eltnam Dairy company, said he had Known the late Mr. Northover particularly well, anil on account or me rant tnat deceased hack not been happy in his own house wnen his wire was away witness had invited hint to stay vitn aim. \\ ith the exception of Monday and Tuesday, deceased had stayed at witness’ house. On Monday nignt tney had visited a neighbour and had spent a musical evening, Mr. Northover being in particularly good form. On Monday night-deceased had stayed at his own house, and on Tuesday he had nad lunch and dinner at witness’ pmce. Later in the evening witness went to tiie pictures, returning home, accompanied by Mr. Northover, at about id. 45 p.m. Deceased left at about 11.15 p.m. Witness tried his best to get him- to stay, but he said, “I’m. goiujr home; I can be as determined as\ou can.”

Constable Townsend: Have you any objections to saying where you were that evening?—No. There is a suggestion that too much liquor was partaken of.—We had gone to the club later, and in the billiard room had been invited to have a drink Mr. Northover declined, and hacl a drink of water.

W ill you say he was not in any way under the influence of liquor? —Absolutely. The only thing was that my ,\ife noticed he was a little dull. Did you notice anything wrong with him? —He. was absolutely normal. He was naturally of a nervous temperament. ' _

Did he do or say’ anything which would cause you to believe he intended to do away with himself? —No. He went home by himself ? —Yes, walked home. 1 inquired at the club when I heard of the tragedy as to whether he had called there. The Coroner: Did you feel nervous as a result of his determination to go home? —No, as he had gone home the night before. When he did net arrive in the morning to meet the auditor there was nothing suspicious: , I had called at his home to see ir he was about, as I could not get him on the telephone. Dr. Cooper said that when lie 'arrived ait the house after the tragedy, deceased had been dead for about eight liours. There were two large gashes in the dead man’s throat. The first gash. had done no damage, the vro-uud being, in the floor of the mouth and too high- up to cause death. The second gash. was lower -and severed the jugular vein on the left side, the windpipe, and carotid artery and jugular vein on the right side. There we reno signs of alcohol. Witness would .say that the act had been committed between 6 &.m. and 8 a.m. William Gaston Walkley, public accountant, Hawera, said his firm; (Burdekin, Walkley and Cameron) were the company’is auditors. Witness saw Mr. Northover in Hawera on. Thursday last and made an appointment with him for Monday morning, which waist postponed till the following morning, a.s another company wished to have their books audited. Witnesscame with his partner to Eltham about 9.30 a.m.. Witness had first to attend a meeting of the Egmont National Park. Board, but at lunch his. partner informed him that -deceased had not arrived. Witness' went-'to t liedairy company's- office about 2 p.m. Deceased was not present, so witness went on with the work till 3.30 p.m. After that lie went to see Mr. Weir, ami they decided to call at the deceased’s house. Constable Townsend: You examined the books of the company. Were there any defalcations that wo-ulcl maketills man commit suicide? —There were some small shortages. And -are the books kept up to- dale.-—-The books themselves are right up to date and are well kept. Do you think the small shortages would be 'sufficient to worry a man. to such an extent?—lt is a matter of temperament. The stun is not a large one. Certain receipts 1 want have not been produced. The total will not exceed £l2O.

Was there any serious shortage: L would not be prepared to say “No, lor any shortage is serious. it was only a small shortage. Mr. Walk ley explained that, tie books were in good order but there ceipts were not .available. The iinanciial' records hail been kept well right throughout the year. The receipts which were not available' lie .had askedi for on Monday. He was told they were not :in older. The fact that he wished them, to be produced, probr ably preyed on Mr. Northover’.s mind. A juryman: Are the receipts for payments recently made? —Aes. They don’t go back more than three or lour months.

(Alias. IT. White, chairman of directors of the Dairy Clo., said that in his letter to the directors deceased had not stated that he was going to commit suicide. He .stated he was saving good-bye to the company, and thanked them! for their kindness, particularly during the past year, and gave directions on various matters connected' with the company’s business. Constable Townsend: D'id tihe letter indicate that you would find some small shortage?— Yes. And that, lie was worried over the miatteir?—'He did not say so. It was a perfectly sane letter. He said that if it had not been for hi 9 health he

would have carried on. His nervous system had broken down. The letter clearly showed it was a “good-bye”?—That was certainly the impression At gave me. ■\ He made no .suggestion that he was going to do away with himself? —No. The jury : Was the letter dated? —■ N>. It it written in pencil on the pid usually in the office. It was apparently written in the office. Che jury, returned a verdict as above. Abridged from tlie Argil's.