ELDERLY MAN'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22378, 26 March 1936, Page 13

ELDERLY MAN'S DEATH

TRAGEDY NEAR HAWERA INTERVIEW WITH THE POLICE [BY telegraph—OWN correspondent] HAWERA, Wednesday After an interview with two police officers yesterday, in which he agreed to accompany them to the Hawera police station, Benjamin Speight, aged (33, of South Road, Hawera, obtained permission to go into an outhouse, in which, half a minute later, he was found with a severe wound in his throat and a razor at his feet. Ho died shortly afterward, and a doctor who had been called was able to do nothing. At an inquest before the district coroner, Mr. 11. S. Sage, Detective Kearney said that with Constable Donovan be called at Speight's home on official business. At witness' suggestion, Speight agreed to accompany the police to the station, so that the matter could bo fully discussed. Detective Kearney said he gave instructions to Donovan to bring the car to the gate. In the meantime Speight, with the permission of witness, entered the outhouse. Witness accompanied Speight and waited about 4ft. from the door of the building. Half a minute later he heard a sound which caused him to rush into the building, where he found Speight with a gash across his throat and a razor at his feet.

"Speight was not in custody on any charge," said Detective Kearney. The police had called to interview him and had no authority to soarch him. He was had no authority to search him. The inquest was resumed to-day and, in the course of the evidence, it was stated that Speight was addicted to the drinking of methylated spirits. The inquest was adjourned pending advice from the Pensions Department regarding Speight's medical and mental record during war service.