SUICIDE AT WAIPAWA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 771, 10 December 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUICIDE AT WAIPAWA.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Waipawa, December 4.

A man named Harold Miehaelson, a subagent in the Government Insurance Department, and deputy registrar of births, deaths, and marriages, tool! a whole box of “ Rough on Rats” poison at 1 o’clock to-day, and in spite of immediate meoical attendance died at 6 o’clock this evening. There is no doubt that it is a case of suicide. Au inquest will be commenced this evening. It is believed that financial embarrassment was the cause. Waipawa, December 6.

An inquest was commenced ou the body of Mr Michaelsen on Saturday night. The evidence showed deceased had been notified that his services were not required any longer, business being dull. He was clerk at an auctioneer's office as well as deputy registrar, &c., and had been much pressed for money of late. About noon be purchased a box of “Rough on Rats,” signing for it in the usual way, aud saying it was to rid his house of rats. He went home and swallowed the whole boxful with the exception of about enough to cover a shilling. The medical testimony showed that the stomach-pump had been used three times, and the usual antidotes given, but it was of no avail, deceased expiring sixteen minutes before 6 the same afternoon. Both of the two doctors who attended were told by deceased that he had taken a box of “ Rough on Rats,” and he gave as a reason that iTe was in a mess financially. Deceased was a Scandinavian Jew, well educated aDd thoroughly Anglicised. He had been sober lately. The funeral took place yesterday under the Coroner’s warrant. The widow and two children are left totally unprovided for. The deceased’s wife said that came in and told her that he had taken a whole box of “Rough on Rats,” adding that he intended that the thing should be done properly. He told her that she would be better without him, and that he was tired of life. When first offered an emetic deceased refused to take it, but as they threatened to call the police he submitted. The jury found that the deceased Harold Michaelsen committed suicide by taking poison while in a state of despondency, brought on by pecuniary embarrassments.