SCHOOL TEACHER’S DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 24861, 29 September 1942, Page 3

SCHOOL TEACHER’S DEATH

Evidence At Inquest (Special) AUCKLAND, Sept. 28. An inquest into the death of Angus Ross, school teacher, aged between 40 and 45, was opened at Dargaville before Mr J. A. McLean, district coroner. Evidence was given that the deceased had arrived at Kaihu by train at about 5.30 last Wednesday evening,’ and had booked in at the Kaihu Hotel. He seemed to be in good health. About 10 o’clock, upon retiring, he asked Miss Nellie M. Hannan, school teacher, who lodged at the hotel, to call him about 6.45 a.m. In the morning, Miss Hannan knocked on his door and, getting no response, called an employee of the hotel, Mr John Anania. They could not open the door, so they went along the fire escape, on which, outside his room, they found deceased lying dead. In his right hand was a revolver, in which were two cartridges, one having been fired. The medical evidence was that death had taken place at 10.30 o’clock the previous evening. The Coroner adjourned the inquest sine die. Ross was to have begun his duties at the Maropiu school on Thursday morning. In the lapel of his coat was an R.SA. badge. His wife lives at Brown’s Bay. Two sons attend secondary school at Auckland.