LONELY DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23085, 9 July 1938, Page 20

LONELY DEATH

MAN IN EMPTY HOUSE NOTE LEFT ON TABLE BODY NEAR MOTOR-CYCLE FUMES CAUSE POISONING An inquest into the death of Albert Frederick Voice, motor-driver and mechanic, aged 31, who was found dead in a room at it is home at 14 Somerset Road, Mount Rosldll, on June 15, was hold before Mr. F. K. Hunt, coroner, yesterday. A neighbour of deceased, Wilfred Subritzkv, said that on the evening of June ]5, Mr. B. Bond called at his home and asked if he had seen deceased. Mr. Bond told him lie bad noticed a light burning in deceased's house for two days. Together they entered the house, noting a leather wallet and a writing pad on the table in the dining room. There was a letter, dated June 11, written in pencil on the top sheet of tho pad. Smell of Oil Fumes Tho body of deceased, witness continued, Mas found lying on the floor of a room in the back of the house. Wit ness could see lie was dead. There was a motor-cycle in the room and the smell of oil fumes could be detected. The window of the room was closed. Witness had heard a motor-cycle engine running in tho houso three days previously. The father of deceased, Frederick Voice, said his son was married on December 22, 1931. There was one child of the marriage. Deceased's wife had deserted him in November, 1930, and since that date deceased had made every eii'ort to trace his wife and child. Because he could not find them, he would at i?imes become very despondent. Witness last saw deceased at his home on June when he appeared to be in good health. Text of Letter Witness considered a reference in the letter found on the diniug room table applied to deceased's sister-in-law, who was married on June 11 last. He suspected his son would watch tho wedding in tho hope that his wife would be present. The following letter, stated to be in deceased's handwriting, was part of the evidence submitted bv the police:— "Well, they arc married. One can only hope their lives will be for ever happy, that nothing will ever break or mar the lovo which brought them together. The bride, well, she looked lovely, nearly as good as my dear Dosie did. It seems so long ago. It. rather strikes my imagination. Dosie—A If., 22 Dec., 1934. Thelma —George, 11 June, liKiS. Everything is half rather peculiar. Well, let my last prayer be that they remain for ever happy.—A. F. Voice." Details of a post-mortem examination were given by Dr. W. Gilmour, who said in his opinion death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

The coroner returned a verdict that deceased had committed suicide on Sunday. June 12, and that death was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.