INQUEST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 146, 30 October 1868, Page 2

INQUEST.

An enquiry into the death of Edward Rice, who was found hanging in a closet attached to his house in the rear of the Mechanics' Hotel, on Wednesday night, was held before J. W. S. Coward, Esq , C >rontr, at the latter place yesterday afternoon. A jury was sworn in the usual manner, and the following evidence adduced. Mary Mice : Deceased was my husband, and came home last night intoxicated. He lay djwn and slept for an hour or two, after which, he got up and went out. I followed him, but he succeeded in eluding me. 1 returned audsat up waiting for him until about half-past one o'clock, but not returning then, I went in search ot him. After examining other places, I looked in the closet, and there found him hanging by his shirt to a rafter. He was quite dead and cold. He had several times threatened to destroy himself. When intoxicated, he very often said he saw strange things in the house. He di.l so on Wednesday night. Kebecca Rice : I am the daughter of deceased. I went home about half-past ten la>t night, and saw my father lying down asleep. About two hours afterwards, he fell off the bed, when my mother helped him up and gave him some supper. After eating it, he commenced feeling all over the table, imagining there was something strange on it. He shortly after said to my mother, " Do you see that man, I know him, and you had better give him a seat." It waa all fancy, as there was not a man in the room. He next got up to go out, and we tried to stop him, but ineffectually. We waited for him, but he did not return, and my mother then went to look for him. I heard her scream, and on running out, I saw my father hanging in the closet. I have often heard my father say when intoxicated that he would destroy himself. He was much intoxicated when I first saw him last night. William Francis Wye : I reside at the Mechanics' Hotel. About two o'clock this morning I was going home the back way, when the servant on opening the window told me to go to Mr Rice* I went and saw Mrs Rict , who told me what had occurred. I procured a knife, and went to the closet, where I saw deceased hanging by the neck with his knees bent under him. He was perfectly cold and stiff. I did not cut him down aa I had intended, but ran for a constable, and a boy went for Mr Patrick.

Constable Jeffrey : About half-past two this morning I went to Rice's house, and Baw deceased suspended by the shirt from a rafter in the closet. It was tied round the neck and the whole weight of the body rested on it. The knees were partly bent, and the feet on the ground. He was quite dead. I cut him down, and on severing the shirt it flew apart by the weight of the body. Deceased had only his trowsers on, but his coat aud vest were lying on the floor beside him. S. A. Patrick : I am a duly qualified medical practitioner. About half-past two this morning a little boy, the son of deceased, called me to go to his father's house, as his father had hung himself. In telling me he remarked that it had occurred about twenty minutes ago. I went with him, and on arriving, I saw deceased in nearly an upright position, in the water c'oset, with his knees slightly bent, and his feet resting on the floor. There was a cloth round his neck, and attached to a rafter in the roof of the closet, tie was quite dead, but there was no distortion of his features. His countenance was paler than life, aud the body was quite cold. A verdict was returned to the effect that deceased had destroyed himself during a flt of temporary insanity, produced by drinking.