SUICIDE NEAR TE KUITI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 392, 2 September 1911, Page 5

SUICIDE NEAR TE KUITI.

The circumstances surrounding the suicide oi Harold Edmonds, a young farm hand, aged 12, employed by Mrs Hunt at the three mile peg, Te Kuiti, were gone into at the inquest which was held on Wednesday nigh l " in the Courthoue, Te Kuiti, before Mr J. Tarnmadge, coroner, and a jury of four.

Arthur John Creasey; gardiner, employed by Mrs Hunt, said Miss Hunt came over tohiswhare about 10 'clock on Tuesday night saving that she thought Harold was mad and asking him to come over. He went to the house but did not see deceased. He had seen him at tea time. Witnessslept in the house all night., Mrs Hunt being away. Miss Hunt called out in the early morning about two a.m. to say deceased was walking about in the kitchen and witness replied, saying he was there, but did not get up until six a.m. when on going to deceased's room he found him rolled up in the blankets lying face downwards, dead. Deceased had given notice to leave, saying he could not get on with the young boss. At tea time deceased looked very despondent and witness had made the remark. "Cheer up, Harold, you'll soon be dead,"and deceased replied "It's a long time since I heard that saying." Witness went to Te Kuiti to fetch the police. Wm. Irwin Hunt, farmer, Te Kuiti, said deceased had been working for his mother since April and gave notice early in August saying he could not get on with him (witness.) He last saw him on Monday night and he then appeared despondent and dull. Deceased was used to country work. Frances Irwin Hunt, living with her mother on the farm gave similar evidence.

Constable Mathew gave evidence of finding the body. There ware bloudstains on the bedc3othes, and a large pool of blood on the floor and a large gash in deceased's throat, his windpipe being severed. A butcher's knife lying along-side was stained with blood. He brought the body into Te Kuiti.

The jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death by a selfinflicted wound whilst of unsound mind.

Deceased was a son of the late Mr H. Edmonds, merchant, Custom street East, Auckland.