SUICIDE AT ALTON.

Patea Mail, Volume X, Issue 91, 9 August 1897, Page 2

SUICIDE AT ALTON.

News was brought into town ou Saturday evening of the death of Mr Fred A, Hurry, the body being found with the head half severed from the trunk. stable Wilson at once rode oat aud re moved the corpse, having it brought into •he cell behind the Courthouse. The man was generally considered to be somewhat peculiar and of a reticent and tactitum disposition, but no one ever suspected any suicidal tendency. As it was too late to hold an inquest on Saturday steps were taken for holding it this morning. THE INQUEST. An inquest on the body of Frederick Alfred Hurry, whose remains were found at Alton ou Saturday last, was held at the Courthouse this morning, before J. A. McKenna Esq. J.P., Acting-Coroner, and a jury consisting of Messrs W, Howitt, Herbert, Thos. Gibson, J. Holtham, Jas. Paterson jnr., andW. Rossiter The jury having been duly sworn proceeded to view the body, and on returning were addressed by the Acting Coroner. Roger Dowson, farm band, residing on Mr Jones’ at Alton, sworn, said: I knew the deceased who was living on the place; I last saw him alive a little after one on Saturday, when we had dinner together, after which I went to work leaving de* ceased in the house; I did not notice anything unusual except, perhaps, he was more reserved than usual; I returned to the house again about three, when I found deceased, as I supposed, dead. I went straight over to the post office and wired to the police in Patea ; I have not known him very long, but seen him at intervals; I was working about 100 yards away, quite close enough to see if anyone came on the place; No one came ; I suppose I have kuown him six mouths ; I had no suspicion that he was likely to commit such an act; the knife produced is my property, and I recognise it; I found the body lying on the right side straight out, with the head just off the ground against the wall. Walter George Jones, sworn, said: I am a farmer living at Alton. L knew deceased; he was staying with me for a fortnight until he got some work ; he came on Monday 2nd inst. ; he was merely staying there till he found a job; I have known him 8 or 1C years and always looked ou him as a little queer; I left my place on Friday last, deceased was there then and went to work ; he was working for Mr D. Wilkie at Otakeho for some time; he told me he was “ out of sorts ” and if he came with me and had a rest for a week or two he would be all right again. To the Jury ; I can’t say whether he left Wilkie’s on his own account or was dismissed. Constable Wilson, sworn, said: I an; stationed at Patea and in consequence of. information re ceived proceeded to Alton about 3 30 on Saturday afternoon to last witness’ farm; I found deceased iu a sort of scullery in last witness’ house laying ou his right side with his throat cut, quite dead ; I searched the body; I found sundry articles —pipe, tobacco, etc., and L 4 17s 9d in cash ; in a top boot just under window I found a knife covered with blood; the knife produced is the one; I carried the body out and had it conveyed into Patea ; ; the body was lying just under the window; be had evidently been sitting on a bag of chaff when he inflicted the wound and rolled off afterwards; I did not know the man when alive. This was all the evidence tendered and the jury, without retiring, brought in a verdict of suicide while in a state of unsound mind.