MANAGER'S SUICIDE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16209, 6 December 1926, Page 13

MANAGER'S SUICIDE

CASH SHORTAGE OF £450 r (Per Press Association 5 CIIRI.BTCHUBCH, this clay. "He was surprised to sen me, and after showing me where the hooks were he left the office. When ne<ct 1 aaw him he was dead. In the meantime I had found a shortage of £4;'o in the linn's cash, of which hehad been in charge." These were the words of W. E. Best, auditor, who gave evidence at tli( adjourned inquest concerning the death of .lames Adair Hall, accountant, for the Hnwarden branch of the Farmers' Co-op., who was found dead last Wednesday. Rest .said he visited llawai'den to audit the books without giving notice of his intention. Ho asked Hall for two receipt blocks, and the latter walked to his overcoat and took- something fjrom his pocket, and left the office. Witness thought he had gone to get the blocks. When witness found the shortage he made inquiries for Hall, but was informed that he was not on the premise?. Subsequently he was found in a si able dead. Hi; face was painfully distorted. Sir. Peek, manager of the drapery department, told witness that he had seen the deceased in the chaff house, and told him witness wanted him. Hail replied that he would go to the office in l(i minutes' time. "Peek came back," said witness, "but did not inform me he had seen Hall. I cannot understand that action on his part. The first intimation I had that anything untoward had happened was when I saw the body. They told mo nothing, but just led me to him. Peek acted as tin ugh he enjoyed the whole tragedy. Which had shocked me intensely." The. coroner, Mr. Lawry, returned a verdict of suicide by strychnine poisoning.