COMMITTED SUICIDE; SALESMAN HAD BEEN DRINKING TO EXCESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18092, 28 February 1927, Page 11

COMMITTED SUICIDE; SALESMAN HAD BEEN DRINKING TO EXCESS.

I hat. Thomas George. Smith, motor salesman, of 41, Somme Street, St Albans, committed suicide bv hanging on Saturday night, was the verdict of the Coroner, Air 11. A. Young, S.M., at an inquest held to-day. Evidence was given that Smith had been in good general health but had been drinking heavily. He was found yesterday morning hanging in a garage on the Somme Street property.

Agnes Smith, wife of the dead man, gave, evidence that when Smith came homo at 7 p.m. on Saturday he asked for the* keys of tfie car and garage. lie was then very much the worse for liquor. lie said: “The booze has got me and T don't know what I am going to do.” When he. did not return witness went out and found the car in the street. Her husband had not been home on the previous Thursday or Friday nights. The next morning her son said that he could sec someone in the garage, and she asked a neighbour to open the door. William Kenneth Nicholson, neighbour, gave evidence that he had found Smith hanging in the garage, lie had been dead for some hours. Sergeant Hyland also gave evidence. To his verdict the Coroner, who found that death had occurred on Saturday night, added: “Smith had been drinking to excess for some time and at the time of his death despaired of overcoming the craving for liquor.”