CLERGYMAN'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21999, 4 January 1935, Page 12

CLERGYMAN'S DEATH

TRAGIC END IN LONDON

DELUSIONS ABOUT MONEY

EX-NEW ZEALANDER'S WORRIES

[from OCR OWN correspondent]

LONDON, Dec. 15

The driver of the 8.3 a.m. train from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, to Marylebone noticed a Isodv lying on the permanent way. The stationmaster reported the matter to the police, who, with members of the station staff, discovered the body below a bridge which is 40ft. above the line. The body was that of the Rev. C. F. Askew, of Beaconsfield, a former vicar of St. Mark's, Wellington, and more recently Dean of Nelson. . The body was identified by members of the railway station staff, who knew Mr. Askew as a fairly regular traveller by rail. The discovery was made on the day before Mr. Askew was to have had luncheon with the Archbishop of Canterbury to discuss a new living. At the inquest a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was returned. Mrs. Edith Askew said although her husband had no living or church, he continually did Sunday duty. During the past three weeks he had been .much distraught and had hardly any sleep. He had a very bad nervous breakdown, and at times he could not read and she had to read to him. His condition was such that ho did not take much notice of anyone. For days ho had not been looking at her, but hung his head down, and when she had spoken to him he had barely answered. On the evening of December 5 he left home at 6.30, stating that he was going for a short walk. He had had financial troubles and he was under the impression that he had no money at all. She was sure that financial matters had disturbed his mind. He would not consult a doctor. Loan to Fellow Clergyman

Mr. William Brainsford Cowcher identified the body as that of his brother-in-law. On December 4 he received a telegram from his sister (Mrs. Askew) asking him to go to Beaconsfield. He had a long conversation with Mr. Askew and he found it very difficult to get any coherent replies from him. The thing that seemed to worry him in particular was that he had an overdraft, at his bank, and that it would not change any more of his cheques. That was an absolute delusion. Mr. C'owcher had seen the bank manager, who told him that they had not issued the slightest query in regard to any of Mr. Askew's cheques, and that any cheque from him would, up to a reasonable amount, have been honoured. Mr. Cowcher said he told Mr. Askew that he would be responsible to the bank. In New Zealand. Mr. Cowcher continued, Mr. Askew's financial affairs* were greatly complicated, and had never been cleared up. Witness found a document showing that Mr. Askew had lent another clergyman £l4O that had not been repaid. He had never said a word to anybody about that £l4O. The" Coroner: You think that his financial difficulties worried him so much that he did not know what he was doing?— Yes, I do. His mind was hopeless. Unnecessary Worry Mr. Askew had been offered a living at Canterbury, and witness tried to get him into the frame of mind to visit the archbishop and take lunch with him. When he left Mr. Cowcher at the Beaconsfield railway station he was infinitely better and stronger in mind than when he arrived the previous dav.

The enginedriver and the stationmaster gave evidence. The latter said that although a considerable number of trains had passed the spot ho was sure no train had touched the body. A doctor who was called to the scene said he thought that Mr. Askew had been dead between 10 and 12 hours. Both lees were broken, his skull was fractured, his brain was lacerated, and there were multiple injuries. The coroner told the jury that that was all the evidence he had to offer. They had heard how Mr. Askew had worried himself about h.is financial affairs. He had. undoubtedly, worried himself unnecessarily.