PATHETIC LETTER LEFT

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 9

PATHETIC LETTER LEFT

SCHOOL TEACHER’S DEATH

FAILURE OF TREMENDOUS ENERGY MAN WITH VERY MANY INTERESTS FINDING RECORDED BY CORONER. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Part of a pathetic letter left by the dead man was read at the inquest held before Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., into the death of Clarence Farnsworth Stratford, a well-known member of the staff of the Kowhai intermediate school, who was found dead near the summit of Mount Eden on September 18. Stratford, who was 33 years of age, was a single man. Constable Quin gave evidence concerning the discovery of the body. A Winchester rifle was lying across it. In an overcoat pocket was found a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Poke. Senior-Sergeant Flanagan said he had been handed the letter, the last paragraph of which read as follows: “I purpose a long talk with the heavenly Father through the night, and when dawn comes may it usher in peace to at least one harassed soul no longer concerned with mortal things. God bless you all, each and everyone. And so on to dawn. Clarence Farnworth Stratford. On the close of a September evening.” The headmaster of the Kowhai school, J. E. Wells, said he last saw Stratford on September 17, his last day at school. He carried out his duties as usual and seemed, as far as the scholars were concerned, to be in his usual jovial mood. In other ways, however, he was obviously not himself, and seemed to be more preoccupied than usual. CAUSES OF ANXIETY. About two years ago he had had to undergo a serious abdominal operation, followed by radium treatment, and he had said he would have to have a further operation. There was no doubt th.at in spite of his cheerful appearance his health gave him great anxiety. From certain incidents that had occurred Wells was also led to believe that Stratford was considerably harassed financially. “Then again he was such an obliging person and took such infinite pleasure in doing work for others, and he had such a wide range of interests, such as aviation, swimming, football, university work, theatricals and educational film work, that heavy demands must have been made on his physical strength, as well as on his financial resources,” Mr. Wells said.

“Harassed as he undoubtedly was mentally and physically, he must have suddenly found that his tremendous energy was failing and he lost the will to overcome difficulties,” added Wells. “He was immensely popular with the scholars and was most loyal to me and the school. I feel sure that his worries were not connected with his ordinary school work, but with his failing health and other difficulties mentioned.” The coroner recorded a finding that death was caused by a rifle wound selfinflicted by Stratford while he was suffering from acute mental depression. “I agree entirely with Mr. Wells’ analysis of the position,” said the coroner. “Stratford was an able teacher and popular with his pupils, but there were matters outside his work which caused him worry, and his condition of health also contributed to his mental state."