SUICIDE VERDICT

Southland Times, Issue 22856, 3 April 1936, Page 8

SUICIDE VERDICT

RETIRED ENGINEER'S DEATH THE FATE OF A WILL (United Press Association.) Christchurch, April 2. Found in a paddock in Riccarton road early on the morning of March 11 last, Daniel Chalklen, retired engineer, of 235 Riccarton road, died later the same day in Christchurch Public Hospital. His death was investigated at an inquest held before Mr E. C. Levvey, as Coroner, to-day. A verdict of suicide was returned. Much of the evidence at the inquiry concerned the fate of a will which Chalklen had made in favour of one son and which, it was stated in evidence, had been burned. Mr R. A. Young, who appeared for certain of the relatives, said that in the Supreme Court Mr Justice Northcroft had not been satisfied with the intestacy. Edward Chalklen, son of Daniel Chalklen, porter at the Christchurch Public Hospital, said that when he returned home after night duty on March 11 his father was missing and a shotgun and some cartridges were also not in the house. He had never heard any suggestion from his father about committing suicide. To Mr Young witness said that a will leaving everything to him had been deposited by his father at Mr T. D. Harman’s office. He now knew from what Mr Harfnan had said that his father had called at Mr Harman’s office the afternoon before his death arid had taken the will, saying that he was going to make some alterations to it. Witness afterwards had found some pieces of paper in a fireplace which appeared to be the envelope in which the will was contained and the charred remains of the will itself. The effect of this was that witness was now not getting all the estate as promised in the will, but had to share with his brothers and sisters. Constable J. McLeod, of Fendalton, said that he had gone to where Chalklen was injured a__few minutes after he was discovered. There was nothing to show how the gun had been discharged. It was lying at right angles to the body. A walking stick was lying at the side of the body, but away from the gun, and there was nothing at all to indicate how the gun had been exploded.