CHEMIST’S SUICIDE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6804, 7 January 1929, Page 4

CHEMIST’S SUICIDE

FOUND HANGING FROM TREE Mr. Alfred Mond, agod 27, second son of Mr. Emile Mond and a relative of Lord Melchett, was found dead in the grounds of his parents’ house, Grey Friars, Storrington, Sussex, recently, writes an English exchange. He was hanging from a tree. He held an appointment at Nobel House, t£e headquarters of the Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., the great combine of which Lord Melchett is the head. He was married in March, 1926, to Miss Betty Phillips, third daughter of Sir John Phillips, the physician, of Talbot Square, Hyde Park, and. lived at 29 Cheyne Place, Chelsea, S.W. , At the inquest a verdict of‘suicide while of unsound mind was returned. Mr. Emile Mond, who was the principal witness, said he last saw his son about 4.30 in the afternoon standing in the hall bending over a book. “ His son nodded to him as he passed. They had had luncheon together and his son appeared perfectly normal. “We became anxious when he did not return home in time for dinner,” said Mr. Mond. "His wife did not know where he had gone, and about 6.30 she became very anxious. I went down to the village and there met my son’s wife who had been motoring on the Downs looking for her husband. When I got home the butler told me that my son had gone out with his gun.

“We went round the grounds calling him by his name until after dark, and about 8.30 I informed the police, and a search party was organised. We were afraid that he might have met with an accident with his gun. “His health has not been good of late. He was tired through overwork. He was suffering from a weak heart, and he was' also worried over his wife’s health, as she nearly lost her life last March when their child was born. “During the last few months he has worked . extremely hard on very responsible work, which he had to do single-handed. He was a technical chemist, and he had stated that the mass of figures he had to deal with would drive him mad. “He intended to consult a specialist on his return to town. He has been living at Grey Friars with his wife since early in August, and was to have returned to town next month, but he told Lady Ross, a guest here, that he dreaded to go. back to his office.

“He was a very proud man and rarely complained. I have never heard him say that he would take his life, and nothing In the world could come as a greater surprise to me than his death in this way. I have noticed lately he has been very irritable in small things, and his health was not improved by a chill received during a motoring holiday in Scotland.” Captain John Green, principal of Storrington College, who. assisted in the search, said the body was found in a wood a quarter of a mile from the house about 11.30 p.m. It wap hanging from a tree by a rope and the feet were touching the ground. Police-Constable Connor said a rope was fastened to the tree about 7ft from the ground. It was wound twice round the tree and tied with a reef knot. Dr. William Mayne said Mr. Mond s neck was dislocated. He was a very heavy man and death was instantaneous. Mrs.’ Mond, the mother, said that her son was ideally happy with his wife. He had no financial troubles. His wife could not give evidence because she was prostrate. The jury returned a verdict as stated above.