A STRANGE CASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9134, 5 February 1910, Page 5

A STRANGE CASE.

DEATH OF MAJOR SAUNDERS.

WHILE UNDER ARREST

VERDICT OF SUICIDE.

(Per Pbess Association.) . MARTON, Feb. 4. Yesterday at Rata, Major Saunders, well-known throughout the district in connection with military matters, was arrested by Constable Gray, of Hunterville, on a charge of having committed a criminal offence. While being conveyed to Hunterville Major Saunders suddenly dropped dead on tho road. THE INQUEST. The inquest was held at Rata yesterday afternoon, before the Coroner (Mr J. A. McDonald). No jury was empanelled. Patrick O'Grady, railway surfaceman, gave evidence in regard to the offence committed by deceased, and also respecting his subsequent arrest. Witness took charge of him until the police arrived, having the assistance of his mates on tho line. Pie accompanied Constable Gray with deceased to his whare. When deceased had changed his clothes he asked for a piece of bread and butter as ho was hungry. A close watch was kept over him while he was eating, and they then left to catch the train. Deceased locked tho door of his whare on leaving, and handed the key to the constable. He (deceased) got over the railway gate all right, but when about two chains from the whare began to stagger and then collapsed. Efforts to resuscitate him proved futile, and he died within ten minutes. Witness did not think deceased could possibly have obtained poison in the whare while there tho last time. He might have had a ; tablet containing poison or something else in his pocket. John Murphy, surfaceman, corroborated O'Grady's statements, and added that when watching for deceased he was up a tree overlooking the spot where the offence was committed.

Constable Gray gave evidence as to statements made by a boy covering a period of twelve months. Witness's account of what occurred in the whare when deceased was under arrest was similar to that given by O'Grady. Ha searched deceased before taking him to his whare. Deceased said he wanted to go there to hand over the School Committee's books (he being secretary) to Mr O'Grady, who was chairman. Deceased sat down and made out a bank deposit slip, which, together with a cheque, ho handed to witness to bank at Hunterville. Witness watched him carefully to seo that he did not evade justice. When he began to stagger on his way to the station witness got hold of him and said, "What have you taken, Saunders?" Deceased appeared to bo incapable of replying. In the whare were found a number of letters showing that suicide was premeditated as far back as January 8. This was about the time two detectives were in Rata. Some of these letters were handed to_ the Coroner, and were read as follows: — Rata, 12-1-10.—My dear When you receive this letter I shall be far away from you. Remember me. my dear boy, for I love you, and would have helped you but for what has happened. All the things I have put together are for you. They will be useful. The books will help you in your studies. Your own books are also enclosed. The odds and ends of bicycle parts will be useful when you have started repairing in the shop. I should- have started you myselt if I had been able to do so. Be a good boy and learn all you can. Pass the sixth well with a proficiency certificate, and make up your mind to be an engineer, for that is what you are fatted for. Love your dad, for I think he will help you, and do not forget the many things I have tried to impress on your mind. Good-bye, dear. God bless you. Never forget your loving friend.-(Signed), Henry W. Saunders Rata, 8-1-10.—Dear . This is tne j last time a letter will reach you from me When you receive it I shall be beyond help. The p.n. given to , and the one for £46 to are both forgeries. With this exception I have been a faithful friend to you, and studied your interests as my own. The reason I took this extraordinary method of raising money was that if the worst came to the worst you should be safe. My confession exonerates you altogether. I'm sorry you had the trouble of a journey to Wanganui, but had you stayed a little I should have saved you that trouble and expense. Good-bye, old friend. I will call you that once more. Remember that at any rate I love your son and did my best for him. It is my greatest grief leaving him. I had hoped to carry him through his next examination, and helped him in his further studies. Be good to him, old friend. He is a good boy. Good-bye. Rata, 8-1-10.—I solemnly declare that the p.n. for £15 given to and the one for £46 lying at the Bank of — , purporting to be signed by , Rata, New Zealand, are both forgeries, executed solely by my hand, and further that the said had no hand in or knowledge of them. (Signed) Henry W. Saunders. Another letter addresed to 1. J. McDonald, Esq.," referred to School Committee matters, and finished by askin"- the recipient to think of deceased as kindly as ho could. Still another to the Rata. School Committe contained an j inventory of the things handed over to them. , Dr. Smith deposed having made a post mortem examination. He found ail the internal organs quite healthy except the stomach, the interior lining of which was slightly inflamed. The cause of death was syncope, due to taking some poison, wihch could only be detected by analysis. He had removed a portion of the organs and sealed them up for the police to forward to the Government Analyst. Deceased ■ would be about 53 years of age. Tho verdict was that deceased committed suicide at Rata by taking some unknown poison. v

In connection with deceased's appointment as Major of the Rangitikei Battalion of School Cadets it is stated that Major McDonald can find no record of his appointment and no records can be found of its confirmation by the Education Board, which is necessary. This matter was discussed when the new regulations came into force, and it was found that Saunders was not eligible for appointment under the new Act, as only members of the reserve and teachers can hold office. Appointments are made by the officer commanding subject to confirmation by tho Education Board. O« Wednesday Saunders attended the Rata School parade and read the orders for Lord Kitchener's inspection of cadets. The headmaster of the Rata School states he does not know from whom Saunders received, these orders or what authority he had for announcing them.

The Wanganui Chronicle's travelling correspondent wires that there is a rumour in the Hunterville district that Major Saunders was in reality the owner of a and a member of a wellknown English aristocratic family. According to the correspondent the residents of the district in which Saunders lived claim that the known circumstances of his life are such as to tally with those of the individual with whom the rumour identifies him.