SUICIDE AT THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11151, 25 August 1899, Page 5

SUICIDE AT THAMES.

AN INVALID STRANGLES HIMSELF. [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT,] Thames, Thursday. A man named Richard Owen Patterson Taylor, committed suicide at the City Bullet restaurant about eleven o'clock this morning, by tying one end of a handkerchief to his neck and the other end to a bedpost, afterwards throwing himself on the floor, and thus strangling himself. It appears that deceased had been suffering from congestion and ulceration, and was brought to the Thames with the intention of being taken to the hospital. He came here from Paeroa on Friday last, and on his arrival it was found there was no room for him in the hospital, so he and his wife put up at Riordan's City Buffet until room was available. On Tuesday deceased was attended to by Dr. Callan, who said he was suffering from the 'complaints already mentioned, and also that the hospital was the proper place for him. This mc ruing it was decided to remove Taylor to the hospital, as room was then available. He said, however, that he would have breakfast before he was removed, and added that he would like some fish. His wife went out to get fish. When she returned to the bedroom door she found there was something against it Thinking that a chair was obstructing the door, she put her hand round to push it away, at the same time looking in at the open space. She saw her husband hanging over the side of the bed, with a handkercnief tied tightly round his neck, and fastened to the bedpost with another handkerchief. The lower part of deceased's body was obstructing the door. Mrs. Taylor immediately gave the alarm. A doctor was summoned, and the police informed of the occurrence. On Dr. Payne arriving on the scene he did everything that was possible, but Without success. He found that the body was warm, and with the exception of the mark round the neck, caused through the handkerchief, it was free from any marks. Dr. Payne worked for twenty minutes trying to restore life. Deceased had lived happily with his wife, and there was no grievance between them. He was unwilling to go into the hospital, and after coming to the Thames he had been very low-spirited. He was a man of temperate habits, followed the occupation of a miner, was born in Victoria, and was *28 years of age. He had suffered a great deal of pain during the past couple of weeks. Yesterday morning he complained of a severe pain in his head, nhd hit wife put a wet towel over his forehead. Deceased s father, it is stated, shot himself several years ago. Deceased's life was insured in the A.M.P. Society for £200.

An inquest was held this 'evening, before Mr. Albert .Bruce-, coroner, when a verdict was returned that deceased met his death by his own act, whilst iy a state of temporary insanity, caused through ill-health."