VICTIM OF DEPRESSION

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1931, Page 8

VICTIM OF DEPRESSION

SUICIDE OF A SOLICITOR. ■ INQUEST AT CHRISTCHURCH., By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch,. February 6. The inquest oh K. Neave, of the firm of Messrs. Lane, Neave and Wanklyn, solicitors, who was found shot at his home, was held this afternoon by Mr. H. A. Young, S.M. 35,318 and 32,550 tons of vessels of the firm Lane, Neave and Wanklyn, identified the body. He stated that Neave was 58 years of age. Witness last saw him at 9.30 yesterday morning. There was apparently nothing unusual in his demeanour, Later he received a call from Neave’s house, and there : saw Neave’s- body in the garage. Neave had handled some' large estates which were affected by the depression. Neaye was a wealthy man; apart from his interest in the firm he would be worth, on a conservative estimate, £50,000,. even taking into account the depressed state of all markets. Witness knew Neave was very worried about financial conditions generally and over the affairs of some of his clients. Witness produced-a letter written by Neave to him, dealing mostly with the affairs of the firm’s clients. .

The coroner, after reading the letter, said Neave had stated that he did not feel equal to carrying the responsibilities that had devolved’ upon him. He had taken on far too much and did not feel that he had the ability to carry such a heavy load. The writer further stated that he had been overworked for years, and had come back from a holiday feeling a nervous wreck. ■ The envelope of the letter, addressed to Mr. Wanklyn, bore the fallowing message: “The earthquake finally maddened me.” > The coroner said that the letter was of an hysterical nature, showing the state of Neave’s mind.

Frederick Brown, employed as a butler by Neave, gave evidence of finding the body in the garage. The gun, both barrels of which bad been. fired; lay near him. . ■ ■ ‘ 4

The coroner returned a verdict, that Neave died of a gunshot wound, self-in-flicted, while, in a state of depression due to .the existing conditions.