CHINESE FOUND HANGING

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1931, Page 11

CHINESE FOUND HANGING

DISCOVERED HE WAS A LEPER HIS HOUSE LATER BROKEN INTO. DANGER FROM STOLEN PROPERTY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The body of Wong Tim Poy, Ji Chinese fruiterer, aged about 40, was found hanging in the cellar of his house at Grey’s Avenue on Saturday morning. Poy was suffering from leprosy and was to have been isolated on Saturday. A further discovery that Poy’s house had been broken into and a suitcase belonging to him stolen was made this morning. Poy was a married man, and his wife lives in China. He made arrangements to leave Auckland for China some days ago, but he was prevented from doing so by the health authorities. A medical examination of him was made and his case was definitely diagnosed as leprosy on Friday. It is understood that Poy learned the result, although be was not informed by ‘the authorities prior to Friday. Poy was sharing a house with another Chinese, but the latter removed to other premises early on Friday evening. He returned on Saturday morning and found the body of Poy in the cellar. The Chinese made another visit this morning to the house, which in the meantime had been locked up. There were signs that someone had entered the premises by forcing open a rear window. A suitease which belonged to Poy was missing and the gas meter was broken open and its contents stolen. Referring to the ease, Dr. T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health, said arrangements had been made with the hospital authorities for Poy to be temporarily isolated before being sent to a leper station. There was some element of danger in the fact that Poy’s property might have come into the possession of another person, but the disease was not as contagious as it was generally thought. Moreover, the disease had not advanced further than the early stages. It was desirable, however, that any personal property should be in the hands of the health authorities.