SUICIDE AT RANGIORA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4480, 2 September 1882, Page 3

SUICIDE AT RANGIORA.

THB IKQTJBST. A» inquiry touohing the death of John Carpenter, who committed suicide on Wednesday evening, was hold at the Plough Hotel, Rangiora, at 2 p.m. yesterday, before 0. Whitefoord, Esq., Coroner, and a jury of twelve, of whom Mr W. A. Burt wbb choten foreman. After the jury had viewed the body, the following evidence was taken : — Kaohel Carpenter deposed : I am the wife of the deceased, John Oarpontor, and have been married to him 16 years. He went to the couraing match on Wednesday last, and returned at about half-past five. He was then in his usual spirits, and had tea with me. ' After finishing his tea, he served two or three customers in the bar, and then wont outside, passing through the kitchen where I was. Ho told mo when going out that he should not be long away, and if I could not manage the house I was to lock it up. This was at about half-pact seven. Thinking that he was only going for a walk I did nut trouble to question him. I did not again see him alive after he left the kitchen. He wus engaged in a law suit which appearod to aggravate him very much. He went to Chrietchurch on Monday last about this Buit, and on his return he eeomed very much troubled, and said that everything was going against him. His apo was 42. He wag born in Middlesex, England. Police Sergeant Barlow, of Rangiora, stated : From information received at a quarter-past three on Thursday afternoon, I went to the Plough Hotel in company with Mr GK Cone and Mr Aymer in order to make a search for deceased, who was reported as missing. We proceeded down the garden into afield adjoining, whero Mr Cone drew my attention to deceasod hanging to a sapling which had grown from the ttump of a largo blue gum tree. This stump was about 3 ft Gin high, and thick enough to allow a person to stand upon it. A piece of line, with a swivel attaohed (produced), was fastened to the eapling, about 4ft above the top of the stump, and to this deceased was hanging. The line was fattened around his neck by moans of the swivel, which came just under his loft car. As ho hung his feet were within an inch from the ground. I cut the rope at once, and let the body down. Deceased must have been dead eomo coneiderablo time, as tho body was perfectly stiff and cold. There was no uppfarßiica of any struggle having tak^.n ;,luce. It would htivo bopn an impossibility to have placed doooaßod in the position ia which ho wii9 found against liia will. I removed tho body, and afterwards searched it, finding certain business documents relating to the Club Hotel, and also a writ, for £60 odd. 1 havo known deceased for three years, and have never seen him the worco Vor drink during that time. Francis Hulcs deposed : I urn Managing Director of tho Standard .Brewery Company. I knew tho dorfwrd. I s>i»w him last tilivo on Monday, August 28. He Ibon consulted mo with regard to his affairs, lie told ni" tliut thero wus a writ out uguinsh him from Movers Partridge und Buddlo lorJEtD cdd. Heßeemed in overy excited state. I agreed to assist; him on certain terms. Ho then left mo to send a telegram to Mr Davis, hia landlord, about the matter. Ho found llint Mr Divis could not came to Kftt!£iora beforo Thursday niglifc. After roming to mo ft era in, and r.grefting to comedown to Chrisfchurch on Saturday to have the affair settled, wo separated. Ho refused to drit.k with me, stating that hv hiui not tut en intoiicfiting liquor Ir.tciy. My impression of hi:n at the limo of his vicit, w.u that ho wr.o very much worried with his affairs. I had scon him rr. o cuions two or three months before, and hia ma;.i;cr wm: then quilo different. Tho Ocroner eaid that Mr G.Cone had also been Bubjcrnaed 113 v wit-ren*, but considering thn c!«nrneßS oi t!:p evid'.ncc given by Server.;:* B'vlow, it would be ht.rdly nceatsur.v to ciil him. At tho lvquofl of the forc.u'Mi of Urn jury, he wns, however, s worn, r.ndinutißWor ton quantum fr-m tho foreman, etntril Ih-ilth© swivel splicoH lo tho ropewns one of «i kind g?ncr«ily ÜB"d for afachinc a leulin;; rein to a lioici 1 . — In answer to a juryman, }in alao fluf."d that a word or two he had heard from Mrs C«rpenlor indued him (o r,o ft^r the j o!ire to investigate the emife of d- <* ■'■<.' i'r" ■ li eiice. This ccv.i'-liulod tie evir.-'t.rr. v:> ' •••ft. r thCoroner hul hr icily ?u:i:;itfl up, 'ho j»ry roritu't n d «i«.fl rctiiriifd i yrdu-i. " ihut i'f-ct-.ii.' i oumtniltod self -de-triii.-'i luzi Ly 1 1«- c"".: himself whilst in a st til o of temporary iugar ity."

At thp Spri»f»*t.on f). i.\)l, .vf'crdiiy aftornoon Mr Henry Ovi>.\'. wrs yn • eonted "itli n visteh hy Mie Hrhi.ln •«, .in J tho eom;ilp!io!i of his term of pi;j>ii lou.-li<r- I chip, nnd lr.ivin{» frr tl)O Ts"or,>-:i! ll( k'jo]. Tho wateli was prcppriledonbi'lmlf of f Isft 6':i:olrvr? l/j Master Jtdwin Wright, tlic cJux of the c.liou!, who read a mhlhWp a<\<lri't<*. Af!cr jrivinj; cheers for Mr Grant, and wishing him wiry euccite i-i lu'b new caivor, tho school broko up for a half hoUday in honour of the tvrnt.