FOUND DEAD IN BED

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 2562, 20 December 1924, Page 7

FOUND DEAD IN BED

DEPARTMENTAIi OFFICIAL PASSES AWAY. When a cup of tea was taken up to his room in a Palmerston North hotel yesterday morning', the discovery was made that Mr Charles Edward Mat. thews, under-secretary of the Department of Justice, and Controller General of Prisons, was dead in his bod. The late Mr Matthews, who was born at Havelock in 1872, and was educated privately, entered the Treasury as a cadet In 1889 and was a clerk in the Justice Department four years later. He was private secretary to the Minister of Justice and Defence from 1896 to 1900, and from then on to 1909 he occupied similar positions with the Minister of Justice Mines and Public Works, From 1910 to 1912 ho was chief clerk in the police Department. Ho wa s then transferred to the Justice Department, and for two years filled the office of Deputy-Inspector of Prisons. Then, in 1014 ho was appointed Inspector and Controllcr.General, and seven years later ho received the appointment of under secretary of the Department of Justice. He had been a member of the Prisons Board since 1915, and was the author of “Evolution of the New Zealand Prison System.” which was published last year. Tn 1898 he was married to Miss E. H. Wiggins, daughter of Mr William Wig-. gins, of Wellington. Two daughters I are also left to mourn their loss. Mr Matthews’ sudden demise will/ come as a shock to hi« many friends and will bo deeply felt in official circles. He arrived in Palmerston North from Wanganui on Thursday night, and intended making a visit or inspection to the Palmerston North Courthouse yesterday. An inquest is considered unnecessary.