AN AMAZING SUICIDE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17698, 19 November 1925, Page 8

AN AMAZING SUICIDE.

To the Editor. Sir. The Coroner’s verdict of “ suicide and that no blame was attachable to anybody” in flic case of the death of the prisoner. William Hayden, at the I errace Gaol, Wellington. does not clear up the mystery. Taking the facts as given in the *: Star’s ’’ report in last ruesclay’s and Wednesday’s'‘issues we find:—

1." Haydcn is stated to have declared. his fear of being; ifiurdered.

- llay den is reported to have become so violent thatgit, took the efforts of several men to subdue him and place him .in a straight-jacket, being then handcuffed and his feet strapped with a belt.

3. —The warder in charge oF him left him alone for fifteen minutes and on returning found him dead “ with the strap round his nook.’’ 4. -Tt is alleged that Ifa.vden commit* ted suicide. Dr Al’Kvedy demonstrated how Hayden managed. although handcuffed and strapped., to get the belt round his neck, and as your report says. “The mystery was thus explained. ”

Hut:—'-(a) The evidence showed fhr.t Hayden, was not strangled hv the belt round his neck : (b) Hayden’s death w as caused bv “ heart failure following concussion.” caused by his head haring lieen bashed against the v nll ; ( c ) death was not caused bv suffocation.

Then How did ii happen 1T •n f n man. whose head had been hashed against n nail sufficient! v 1o cause heart failure and death was then sufficiently in possession of his senses to •'•'remove the belt from his legs, place if in a running noose round his neck, and attach it to an iron ring bolted to the wall two feet above the floor?’*---! am. etc., MYSTIFIED.