POISON MYSTERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16434, 24 May 1921, Page 7

POISON MYSTERY.

C. R. SMALLFIELD’S DEATH. DECEASED’S FINANCES, ADJOURNMENT FOR POLICE INQUIRIES. [Pirn Prim As»oor*liois. J HAMIT/rON, -May 23. The re-o)Xmad inqnefJt. on the body o, Cecil R. Sraalliield was continxied to- | Colin Dalbeth said he was present ; when the body was recovered. -So <iis- i mfectant was used. Smailfield. w-as ol | a cheerful disposition. Uis face was j placid and peucefulHarry Cracknel!.- pubJio accountant, j said he looked after SmalHield’s bu»tness affairs. Deceased took his Ids j policies from the safe on the morning , of his death. Deceased was never de- ( pressed. His net profit at. the end ot September was £IBOO. Deceased was | an optmistic man. and had :tn c-nerjretro mind. Ho was hot tlio type of man to bo depressed over business, or commit suicide. At tho time of lus death deceased was in credit at the banK to the ; extent of £1459. Against this he pro- j sented cheques for 411400. 4, itness j presumed deceased took the policies ; from the safe with the intention of ; raising money on them. Witness had: in Ids possession a letter written by | SmallfieW lo his wito on the day oi Ms deatli. It Was couched in affections .c The letter was produced and handed in. A request by counsel that it he not read pubficly was - acceded to by tho Coroner. There was no date on the letter, but the postmark was January 26, the date of deceased's death. Witness said that ho was informed by Smallficld that lio was called up for military service in the ballot, but rejected as medically unfit. W itnesß was rung up by iSmallfiekl oil tho day of bi» i death tiotv.’wn n quarter arid balt-pasu j two. .Deceased asked what was m tne ! mail, and asked witness to pay threeI cheques. He also mentioned that he I was p;oing to Ngaruawhia. "Witness had seen ‘ deceased every day except Sundays during the last month of jus life. During that period deceased had not been ill. Deceased had not been pressed by creditors. There had never been anv summons for debt or a threat to sue him. Counsel examined witness at great length in an endeavour to prove that deceased was insolvent at the time of his death. Deceased had five motorcars, and one motor-bicycle, and all were used in his business. It was the usual custom to charge up insurance premiums to the insurance account a net to count the insurance policy as an asset. The sum of £648 had been paid in premiums to date. The yearly premium of the National Life Assurance Association Office policy was £312 and that of the Government Life £lO2. In reply to Air H. H. Ostler, who watched proceedings on behalf of the relatives of deceased, witness said that at the time of Smallfield’s death the financial stringency was not bad, and deceased could have carried on and met the stringency. To th© Coroner: it© could not pay what reason Smallfield had for insuring himself for £15.000, unless as an investment. Witness was certain that ?f tinners were normal deceased could have kept up the payment if th© premiums. C. H. Pullen insurance representative of the A.M.P. Society, said that he told deceased that the insurance would jbe oaid if lie committed suicide, provided that he paid the policy up for thirteen months. Deceased paid, Yes, that is pretty good.” Witness said 14 Ii is worth another five thousand, ’ to which deceased replied, “ Yes, I will consider it at the end of January.” Deceased had offered to bet a man £IOO that he would not get paid out. The bet. .was not taken up. Deceased never mentioned that he contemplated suicide. The police deposed that they had marie inquiries but could not find evidence that deceased had purchased carbolic acid locally. They had not made inquiries at Auckland. Tho Coroner gave instructions to the police to make inquiries throughout the province, and adjourned the inquest for a week.