NEWTOWN PARK SUICIDE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 46

NEWTOWN PARK SUICIDE

An inquest was held at the morgue Thursday afternoon before Mr James Ashcroft, District Coroner, on the body of James McEnirney, who was found hanging from a tree in Newtown Park on the previous day. . Sub-Inspector O’Donovan represented the police. Alfred Smart, an eleven-year-old boy, deposed to finding the body. It was suspended by a strap round the neck from a branch of the tree. The head was about 2ft from the ground, the legs outstretched, the body thus being in a reclining position. Two men cut the body down.

. John Berg, driver at Newtown Park, deposed to seeing deceased in the park at twenty minutes to 8 on the previous morning. Knew him well. Witness asked him if he had been out all night. Deceased replied that he had not; lie was only out for fresh air. He looked very peculiar and very despondent. Formal evidence was given by Constables Taylor and Kerr, and Dr Paterson.

Margaret McEnirney, widow of deceased, said that he was forty-eight years of age. On the morning of the tragedy he went out at 7 o’clock, returned, ana w'ent out again about 10 o’clock. He was depressed about being out of work, and would not sleep or eat. lie declared that his employers fthe City Corporation) were against him, and wound, not give him any more w r ork. Witness herself had appealed to them to give him something to do to relieve his mind, but had not succeeded. “He was working previously at the destructor,” said witness. “It killed him, ruined his life, and broke down his health altogether.” Deceased had never threatened to kill himself. He was very queer, especially during the last week. Witness had eight children, the eldest a boy of nineteen, the youngest live years old. Prior to losing his work deceased was always cheerful. After that he completely changed. It would not have happened, she thought, if his employers would have done something for him. ~ ~ , , .... The Coroner said that no doubt the Corporation had certain rules to observe. It seemed to him, however, that they might have given the man some chance. It was a very serious thing, when a man had several children, to turn him off altogether. , The jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane.