Suicide at Tologa Bay.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 636, 26 February 1879, Page 2

Suicide at Tologa Bay.

Last evening a messenger arrived in town, bringing the melancholy intelligence that Joseph Northover, a man well-known to all old Gisbomites, had committed suicide of a most determined character. On Monday the deceased was in his usual state ■of health, and those to whom ho was intimately known, had not the least suspicion that North - over was likely to commit so desperate an act. Yesterday morning, the deceased, who was engaged working the ferry, not appearing at his usual houi*, Mr. C. M. East went down to the whare to call him. Not receiving an answer to his knock, Mr. East pushed open the door, when he found the deceased suspended by a rope from one of the rafters, The deceased, it was found upon examination, had placed a chair on a table that was in the room. Mounting the chair, he had thrown a rope across a rafter 1 , and then placed a slip knot round his neck. Kicking the chair from his 1 feet, the end sought for was accomplished. Northover was cold and stark when cut down. The deceased lived with a Maori wife, by whom he was the father of several children. The suicide created quite an alarm in the township, as Northover was well . known, and although one occasionally given to excess, was not by any means drunkard. An inquest was held this afternoon before Mr. Murphy, acting as Coroner. The result will not be known until late this evening, or early to-morrow.