ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Southland Times, Issue 17816, 21 August 1916, Page 5

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

.SUICIDE AT BLUFF, On Saturday afternoon at Bluff, a man named James Broadbent Whittingham committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. He was 25 years of age, a native of England, had been in the dominion about tln-ce years, and had no relatives here. Formerly, he was employed as a barman by M, do Clifford, of the Riverton Railway Hotel, and afterwards took up a similar position with Mr Wm. Walker, of the Bluff Club Hotel, until his services were dispensed with. He returned to Bluff a few days ago, and on Saturday moriu-ig left for Invercargill, but returned later under the influence of liquor. Mr Walker, seeing his condition, suggested that he should lie down, which he consented to do, hut asked to he called in order that he might catch the train which arrives in Invercargill at 2.40 p.m. Mr Walker culled him as requested. Whittingham complained that he could not find ills collar stud, and said lie would go into the servant's room close by to got a stud. Mr Walker waited for him to return, hut bearing a gurgling sound lie went into the servants’ room, and found that Whittingham had cut his throat with a razor which lie had evidently been carrying about witli him. A Coronial enquiry was held yesterday afternoon before the Coroner (Mr G. Crulckshank). Evidence, which was given by John Tyrrell Stratheurn, Wm. Walker, Dr Torrance, and Constable Murphy) showed that deceased had been dismissed from his employment as barman at the Club Hotel for over-indulgence In drink. In the interval ho had gradually developed delirium tremens, to which the act was attributed. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased had met ills dc«»3h by committing suicide whilst temporarily insane.