INQUEST.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 220, 4 September 1911, Page 3

INQUEST.

DEATH OF THOMAS RENNIE.

An inquest was held on Saturday afternoon in Napiei- concerning the death of Thomas Rennie. The Coroner, Mr. S. E. McCarthy, presided and Sergeant Cummings conducted the enquiry for the police.

The first witness was Michael Henry McCarthy, who said that deceased came to stay at- his house, the City Buffet, on June Cth last and had remained there ever since. Deceased was about 64 years of age and so far as he knew was single. A brother lived somewhere in the district. No complaint was made by deceased about his condition and he always seemed in good health. On last Wednesday night he fell and hurt his shoulder on the club stairs, but witness did not see him after the accident. On the following morning he saw deceased who complained of nis shoulder. Deceased had shown signs of having taken liquor two or three times. Generally speaking Rennie was a sober man. On Friday witness took him to Dr. Leahy to have his injuries attended to, but they did not see the doctor then ;

they arranged to go again in the evening. He had personally examined deceased’s shoulder on the Thursday, but found nothing worse than a bruise. At about 2.3 p.rn. on Friday deceased went out saying he would not wait for the doctor as he wanted to write a letter at the club to catch the 3 o’clock mail. Witness had no idea to whom deceased intended to write. An appointment with the doctor was made for 7 o’clock, but deceased could not be found. At about •3.45 he saw Rennie sitting in the club and at 7 went over to bring him him to see the doctor but he was gone. Between 2 and ‘3 p.m. on Friday he found in deceased’s bedroom a solution of match heads in a soda water bottle, half a bottle of benzine and a box of matches. He removed the things from the room and later went to the club secretary taking the things with him. After some discussion, and with the consent of the secretary, he went to the Inspector of Police and told him what he thought. Witness returned to the club and again tried to persuade Rennie to see the doctor, but he refused to go. Witness tried to ring up Donnelly about it, but could not get the station. After Rennie had finished his tea about 6 p.m. witness called him into a private room ano told him of the appointment with >hc doctor. Deceased did not keep the appointment and at about 7.25 witness locked his room so that he should not enter without observation as to his condition From his knowledge of deceased he would say he was not quite sober in the evening, but other people would not notice it. Witness remained up until midnight waiting for Rennie and eventually left the key in his door. Deceased showed no signs oi despondency. He had been working for Mr. G. P. Donnelly for the past 35 years, but witness could no!, say >f he wis still in his emplov at the time of his death. Rennie told him he hid been taken <• task for ml going back to work. Deceased owed him £‘B 19/6 for board.

Williams W. Hicks, steward at the Working Men’s Club, said Rennie was a member. He had seen deceased frequently in the club during the last seven weeks. During that time he had never seen deceased under the influence of liquor. Rennie did not drink to any extent. He last saw deceased alive on Fridayevening about 9 o’clock, perfectly sober, going through the social hall to the front of tthe club. At 7.15 on Saturday morning he found Rennie dead in one of the w.c.’s. Deceased always seemed cheerful and he knew of no reason for the suicide. He knew nothing of any fall on the club stairs. He could say nothing of deceased’s relatives. At 11.15 p.m. on Friday he locked up the back premises and went through all the w.c.’s and found them empty. The w.c.'s were always open from Dickons street.

Constable Hendry gave formal evidence as to finding the body. The throat was cut and the right hand held a pocket knife.

The Coroner found that the deceased committed suicide between 11 p.m. on the night of the Ist Sept., 1911, and 7.15 the following morning, by cutting his throat, but whether deceased was sane or insane there is no evidence to show.