SUICIDE AT WAKAPUAKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 24, 21 October 1898, Page 2

SUICIDE AT WAKAPUAKA.

A SETTLER'S MELANCHOLY END.

HE SHOOTS AND HANGS HIMSELF. A determined suicide was discovered at Wakapuaka ahont aoven o'clock last evening, and was reported to the Police about half an hour later. The unfortunate victim of his own rash act was Mr Thomas Hayton, a farmer and Hardener, who resided at Dodson s Valley, Wakapuaka. The deceased ro3o at the usual hour yesterday morning, and milked his cows. Uotween seven and eight o'clock he went to work in a paddock about a mile from his house, taking hi 3 midday meal with him, according to his custom. On leaving, he bade his wife good bye, bnt ho appeared to be in his usual spirits, and there was nothing in his demeanour to excite suspicion. As he did not return home to tea, Mra Hayton, after wai'ing BOrne time, sent her ten year old sou to tho paddock to look for him. The boy went to the paddock, and after calling his father several times without receiving any answer, he entered a shed which stands in the paddock. On opeuing the door he saw the dead body of his father hanging by a rope round his neck. On running into the road he met Mr ,1. Black, a neighbour, and his Bon, Mr J. F. Blaok. Tbe latter ran to the shed and there saw the body hanging by the neck as already described, with the toes resting on a box. Mr Black cut the body down, but although it was warm, life was extinct. He then came to town and informed Sergt Mackay, who with Dr Roberts, proceeded to the place in a cab. A double-barrelled shot gun was then found to be lying by the side of the body, and thec'ose examination which folio wei showed one barrel had recently been discharged. A piece of string with a loop in the end of it was attaohed to the trigger, and it was evident that the decea»ed had taken his life by placing the muzzle in his mouth and pulling the trigger by means of the string. In order Iv guard against failure he had placed the rope round his neck, and thus, if the gun had failed to do its work, death by hanging would have been accomplished. Then; were ovidonces of strangulation, and oithoi- this or tho wound from the gun may have caused death. The body was removed from tho shed to the adjoining residence of Mr Moulder, ' wheio die gunshot wound in the month ( was discovered. A piece of folded paper, ! on which something was written, was f und in one of the waistcoat pockets, ■ hut it was saturated with blood, and Ibe j stains oblitora'cil the wridug, which has J si farnu 1 een di ciphered. Tho deceased, who had been a resident of the district for several years, leaves a wife and two children. Ho was of an excitable disposition, with a marked tendency to become despondent when his affairs took an unfavourable and displeasing turn. He was a native of Sunderland (England), and was 15 years of age. About two years ego ho to-ik strycliinnc, but ha recovered under medical treatment. During the past, two or three weeks he had been uuiisuaby despondent, but there was nothing to occasion suspicion. Financially, lie was in a fair position, and he was well respee'ed in the district. An inquest was being held ah Wakapuaka this afiernoon by Mr 11 . W, ftobiason, Coroner. -=— i