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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 124, 23 April 1927, Page 13

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man burned to death. KEROSENE POURED ON CLOTHES. Per Press Association. WHANGAREI, April 22. A horrifying discovery was made by searchers for a missing young man at five o’clock to-night, when Francis Daniel Rumbal (aged 27), employed as a porter at the Whangarei Hospital, was found dead in some bushes as the result of pouring kerosene over his clothing and setting light to it. ■ Ho was.last seen alive on the Maunu Road, by which the hospital is approached, by another member of the hospital staff. Miss Jessie Price, some 7} hours earlier. It- is- apparent that his intentions were suspected by his father, who stated early this morning that he did not expect to find his son alive. That fear was confirmed by. the arrival with the mail to Mr J). T. Rumbal’s house at Kamo of _ a letter written by his son. the previous day which intimated that he intended to commit suicide. ' 'The search party, which included the father, came on the body in some bush off the Maunu Road and only,a short distance from the hospital grounds. The body was found with practically every stitch of clothing burned off the trunk. Near by was an empty bottle of kerosene, a box of matches, and a razor. It is evident that the unfortunate young man had poured kerosene over his clothes and set fire to himself, allowing himself to be burnt to death as he lay on his back in the scrub. The body was brought to the morgue, and an inquest will be held. It is •stated that deceased, who for 6ome 6ix or seven years past had suffered from epileptic fits, had not been happy in his surroundings.