STOKE MANAGER'S SUICIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17338, 9 December 1919, Page 8

STOKE MANAGER'S SUICIDE.

o ——— RANGED FROM A RAFTER. \ ' DISCOVERED BY HIS WIFE. [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN COttBESPOSTJENT.) THAMES. Monday. The body of John Newbold Heap©, manager of Bagßall Bros.' store, Turna, was , found hanging from a rafter in the storeroom late last night. Evidence at the inquest showed that deceased had been suffering for some time from ill-health and nerves. He was at home engaged on bis store books during the greater part of yesterday, and after "tea went over to the office at the store, which is situated close to the house, where he remained, still occupied with his books. His wife was with him there until about 9 o'clock, when she left him and returned to the house. Shortly after 10 o'clock Mrs. Heaps and her daughter went outside, and noticing a light in the storeroom as well as in the office went over to the store. Pushing the back door open they found the deceased hanging to one of the rafters. l Dr. Liggins was sent for, and arrived from Thames, but pronounced life to be extinct, death apparently having taken place some two hours previously, which would be shortly before the deceased was discovered by his wife and daughter. A veidict of suicide while in a state of temporary insanity, induced by ill-health, I was returned. Deceased, who was 49 years of age, had been a resident of the district for a considerable number of years, and had occupied the position of manager at the store for the past 15 years.