TUB LATE SUICIDE AT SURREY HILLS ESTATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7269, 6 March 1885, Page 6

TUB LATE SUICIDE AT SURREY HILLS ESTATE.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon, at the Star Hotel, • Newton (Mr. Brophy, proprietor), before Dr. Philson, Coroner, and jury (of whom Mr. Joseph Warren was chosen foreman), on the body of William McKinstry, commission agent, who was found on the previous evening lying dead in a gully on the Surrey Hills estate with his throat cut. Constables Collie and .Clarke represented the police. The jury having been duly sworn, proceeded to the residence of deceased, Brown-street, Ponsonby, to view the body. The wounds in the throat presented a ghastly spectacle. On the jury returning to the hotel the following evidence was adduced :— Alfred Osborne Knight deposed that he was ft duly qualified surgeon, practising in Auckland, Had seen the body of deceased that day. About half-past seven on Wednesday evening was called away by Constable Collie to see deceased, who was supposed to have committed suicide, at a gully in Surrey Hills, Ponsonby. On arrival at the bottom of the gully found deceased lying on his back with his throat cut. Life was extinct, and body quite cold, but not rigid. The wound in the throat was a clean out across the outer part of the neck, six inches lonjf, and gaping widely, dividing the carotid artery and jugular vein. From appearances the wound had been made by several strokes of a sharp-edged instrument, and had bled profusely, as shown by the quantity of blood on the ground, and saturating his clothes. There were no other wounds on the body. Deceased's right hand lay along his thigh and tightly grasped the handle of a razor (produced), both handle and blade being covered with fresh arterial blood. He was fully clothed, except the head, the hat lying near the body. There were no signs of a struggle, and deceased had not altered his position. Death must have been almost instanteneous, and caused by haemorrhage. Witness had known deceased for 12 months. Believed the wound was self-inflicted. Could not •peak as to deceased's state of mind. Directed the body to be removed to deceased's residence, Brown-street Francis Thomas Bayntun deposed that he was a duly qualified surgeon practising in Auckland. He had seen the body of deceased that day. Was at the residence of deceased when the body was brought in by the police on Wednesday evening. Dr. Knight was present. Had heard the evidence given by him as to the character of the wound, and the cause of death, and agreed with that evidence. Witness had been sole medical attendant of deceased for eighteen years. Last saw him alive on Monday, at Mr. Hudson's, chemist, Victoria • street. Hβ complained of palpitation of the heart, and thought he had had a sunstroke, and could not sleep at night. Deceased said business matters were troubling him greatly. Witness prescribed for him, and called at his rear dence on Wednesday afternoon at quarter past five o'clock. Did not see deceased then, but Mrs. MoKiustry told him that her husband was as mad as mad could be. He had paced the house- all night with a shawl on, Maori fashion, and had had no sleep, and that he had just gone to the back. Witness went to the closet, and found the button unfastened. Called out, but did not receive any answer. Went away, promising Mrs. McKinstry to call later in the evening, which he did. Did not believe deceased was of sane mind. On Sunday evening, coming from church, he complained of being greatly depressed in spirits. Witness knew nothing about his private affairs. Francis W. Lipscombe deposed that he was a grocer, residing in Ponsonby-road. Had seen the body of deceased that day. Had been acquainted with him for 14 years. Last |aw him alive between two and three o'clock on Wednesday-afternoon, when he got oat of the tramoar opposite Brownstreet, and as deceased passed witness's shop he bade him "Good day." Deceased replied, and went on towards hiit home. At half-psst four o'clock, a neighbour, Mrs. MoKeown, came to witness's house, and aaked if he had seen Mr. McKinetry ? Told her that he had seen him get out of the tramcar. Half an hour later Mrs, McKinstry came up. to make similar inquiries. At six ' o'clock the son, William McKinstry, came, up, and half an hour afterwards witness went down to deceased'* residence in company with the son William. Subsequently Ernest McKinstry, a son of deceased, went ■to Parnell to look for him, fancying he might have gone to visit some friends, and the. other son and witness went to Surrey Hills, where a few hundred yards from Richmond-road boundary they found deceased's body lying on the ground with the throat oat. They searched Surrey Hills because of information received that he had been seen going in that direction. Witness informed Constable Collis of ooourrence, and they returned, getting Dr. Knight to accompany them. The body was then removed to deceased's residence. Thought deceased's manner was peculiar, in not stopping to speak as he generally did. .Never suspected him of contemplating suicide. When deceased got out of the tram-car he was perfectly sober. Had had many dealings with him. Found him a temperate, straightforward man. Was not aware of his being in any difficulties in money matters. -

William McKimtry, jun., in the employ of the Auckland Timber Company, deposed that he was a son of deceased. Had seen the body of Mβ father that day. Witness lived at the residence of his father, who was a commission agent doing business in Lower Queen-street. His age wae 61. Up to within the last ten days his general health was good. Hβ complained latterly of weakness, and liver being out of order, and went off his food. Was a man of temperate habits, and not given to drink. Had been attending to hie business every day, but obtained very little sleep. Last saw him alive on Wednesday, at noon, in his office, Queen-street. Did not remember anything different in his manner to what he had been during the past week. To the best of witness's knowledge, hia father's affairs were not embarrassed, and be had no bills to meet that he knew of, nor was anybody pressing him for money. Witness returned home from work at half-past five on Wednesday afternoon, and was told by hia mother that his father had gone out, and the did not know where he had gone to, and had been searching for him in vain. Went down the Riobmond-road to Cox's Creek, to see if he had gone for a walk, as he sometimes did. It was his father's custom to tell his (witness's) mother when he went out, bnt on thin occasion he did not do so. Subsequently, in company with Mr. F. W, Lipscombe, went to Surrey Hills to look for deoeaeed, and found the body Under the circumstances stated by him. Before going to Surrey Hills found that deceased had left his watch and £21 2s on the cheat of drawers in his bedroom. It was customary for him to leave money that way, but they thought it strange for him to leave his watch. To the best of witness's belief the cause of his father's depression of spirits was ill-health, caused by bad digestion. The razor found in his father's band was his (witness's) razor, which he kept on his look-ing-glasß in his own bedroom. Bis father had not used a razor for twenty years. Dβ had no doubt that his father took away his life with his own hand, but could give no reason for his doing bo. On Monday last, on returning home, he complained of the heat, and said, " Ob, mother, I am roasted." He was on the wharf that day. Henry McKeown depoied that he was an ironmoulder, residing in Brown-street. Had known deceased for the past twenty years. Last saw deceased alive at half-past five on Wednesday afternoon. He was then coming through Sueeex-atreefc, on the Surrey Hills Estate, and was alone. Witness was sitting down in a paddock, near a plantation, reading a book, and deceased came towards him, and said, "Well, Henry, are you reading » book}" Hβ then commenced running towards the opposite plantation, and came baak to within five yards of witness. The plantation wae fifty yards distant, fie aaid nothing the second time, but walked down towards the plaoe where the body was found subsequently, some 200 yards distant. First heard of deceased's death at eight o'clock. Deceased had one hand in hie pocket; he did not see any razor in the other. Hβ was perfectly aobar. Had never seen, deceased in any other condition. Constable Collie, stationed at Ponsonby, gave evidence as to bringing the Hody to decoaaed's home. Had known deceased for the last sixteen months as ft steady, sober, and sensible man. Last saw him alive on Saturday last, Oα Foneonby-road, and spoke to him. He seemed in hu usu«l health. Never saw anything peculiar or eccentric about him. On searchiug clothing of deceased found in Wβ pookets a knif* some tramway tickets, and insurance oorrespondeace, bat

nothing to throw light on the occurrence of hi* death. The jury, affcer a brief consultation, returned a verdict to the effect that deceased took away his own life while in a state of temporary insanity.