SAD CASE OF SUICIDE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1130, 27 October 1893, Page 13

SAD CASE OF SUICIDE.

An inquest was held at the morgue last Tuesday afternoon by Mr J. Ashcroft, coroner, concerning the death of Arthur Evans' whose body was found hanging by a rope on the wharf, near the Star Boat Shed, at an early hour that morning. Mr M. Higgins was foreman of the jury. Dr Pollen deposed that he was called to see the deceased at 4.15 a.m. .that day, and found him lying on the wharf dead, close to thq Star Boating Club shed. Witness tried to resuscitate him by artificial respiration, but with no success. He had since examined the body, and had found a mark on the neck, where there was a deep depression of the skin, extending across the windpipe and round the neck below the ears. The rope produced by the police fitted accurately into the depression. All the appearances he observed were consistent" with death by hanging.

Samuel Webb stated that deceased had been lodging with him for the past eight years. Evans was a very quiet, sober man, out for the past eight weeks he had been very low spirited through sickness. On the previous night he seemed specially low spirited. He talked of going to Sydney, and said Dr Collins had recommended him to take a trip somewhere. Witness left his company about 9 p.m. Towards midnight the servant girl told him that Evans had gone out, and as soon as possible he and some others went in search of him. They went as far as Island Bay, but got back home without having found him. In the meantime Mrs Webb had been out and found his coat and hat near the Star Shed, and witness and a man named Frank Haybittle immediately rushed down there, and found the body hanging by a rope, which was attached to a hook on which the lifebuoy used to be fixed alongside the steps leading up to the wharf. The body was wet and had evidently been in the water. The feet were touching the planking of the wharf, and the knees were bent. The rope used was a life - line with buoys attached, taken from the wharf. Evans had been a salesman at Mr Hill's, hatter, Lambton quay, for about 17 years, but had left his situation about four or five weeks ago. He always paid his way, and did not complain of shortness of funds. Witness thought he had a itynking account, and he Avas also insured.Mtle believed he had a sister at Williamswwn, in Victoria. Deceased was about A 4 years of age, and was, he believed, aMctive of Victoria. said"hTr~fo^±fi& J "on deceased a watch which was full of water, and had stopped exactly at 12 o'clock. There were .£1 0s lid in the trousers pocket, aud in the jacket pocket

was a receipt for an insurance policy in the National' Mutual Life Association for .£3OO, dated 21st September, and a form for a will.

Arthur Henry Rodgers, nightwatchman, stated that about 1 a.m. he saw the deceased by Sidey*s auction rooms, Cuba street extension, going in the direction of the Star Shed. It did not occur to him to watch him.

The jury returned a verdict of " Suicide while in a state of temporary insanity." The Coroner said he thought the Webbs did everything they could to find the man as soon as they knew he had left the house, and they deserved great credit. The premiums paid on the insurance policy on Evans' life amounted to .£l2l Bs, and the bonuses to .£lO4, to which another £7 or .£8 has to be added. The deceased's estate is now in the hands of the Public Trustee!