DEATH OF A MILITARY OFFICER

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12765, 5 February 1910, Page 2

DEATH OF A MILITARY OFFICER

SUPPOSED SUICIDE BY POISON

[United Press Association.]

Feilding, Feb. 4

The sudden dtath of Major Saimders, the officer who was in. charge of the cadets on this coast, is reported from Rata, under remarkable circumstances. The deceased was single, and a remittance man, being over 50 years of age. He lived by himself in a whare at Rata. It had been decided to relive him of his position in relation to the cadets, owing to reasons purely of a personal character. Yesterday he was arrested on a serious charge connected with those reasons. He then asked permission to go to the school for some papers, anoT while going he fell down and expired.

An inquest was held at Rata today, when a verdict was returned that death was due to ■syncope, through some poison. A portion of the internal organs will be sent to the public analyst. Deceased left a number of letters relating to the case against him, and showing that his suicide was premeditated.