STARVED TO DEATH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 9 November 1927, Page 8

STARVED TO DEATH.

UJN Ki\ OiW N EX-SOLDIER

PATHETIC! LEITERI FOUND

The adjourned inquest into the death of an unknown man whose- body was found hi a deep gully -at Kopaki on October 3, was resumed at To Kuiti on Saturday. Sergeant Fern ley and Constable Farrell gave further evidence, toi the effect that a message was found by Mr, Waghorn in, a disused whare owned by him, and situated a- short distance from the spot where the body was found. The letter, which was produced, was written on the margin of a, copy of the “School Journal,” foun by Mr. Waghorn and his sou in May last, iiad no signature, but was dated and worded as follows :

24/12/26. —I simply cannot get any further. My stomach is aching for food, and backache is awful. Imagine a battle-scarred hero starving to death in the country he was so proud to fight for. Three days without a bite. A whole week on half a loaf and, cold water. Death is niy -best friend, he will relieve me of all pain. In your happy hours think of the death I died all alone. Nq wonder wounded soldiers who are- pensionless and are not able to work as they could before the war, commit suicide, when, they are without funds or money. Death is the finest after all. Good-bye, all. .Death will soon claim another victim through the merciless* action of War Pensions Board. You ungrateful people of ‘God’s Own Country.’ A dose of -strychnine would end it all sudden, but I prefer to, die, as 1 once lived, honourably; farewell N.Z. I take my last walk now. X am as weak as water. The reader: Were yo-u ever very -hungry ? Well, lam starving. A lady settler down the road refused me a meal to eat. May a just God punish her severely. Give full publicity. 24/12/26.” The foregoing, written in pencil, was considered by the police to be the work of the man whose body was found, as a pencil was found in his vest pocket. The settlers of the district are distressed, as they are noted for their hospitality.

The dead man was aged about 50, was sft lOin in height, and had fair hair, turning grey, but slightly bald. He wore boots, size 9, and had false teeth and a manicure set. He was evidently of a refined nature. The police stated that despite all their efforts tbe identity of the man had not been ascertained. The coroner -returned a verdict of death by starvation and exposure.