A YOUTH'S DEATH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8529, 7 September 1907, Page 7

A YOUTH'S DEATH.

THE CORONER'S INQUEST. An inquest was held in the MasterJfcon Courthouse, yesterday morning, before Mr W. P. James, Coroner, and a jury, touching the death of the youth, Walter John Fond, aged 17 years, who was found hanging from a rafter in a loft above Messrs Beale and Parton's shop, on Thursday last. The following jury • was "empanelled: Percy Young (foreman), Leslie Foster Hallani, William Ayson, James Mcßae, Alfred P. Fielding, and Patrick Carr. Arthur Pond, father of the deceased, said he last saw his son at dinner hour on Thursday, when he appeared in his usual health. The decEased had never been a very bright boy. The boy had never made any complaints about his employment. He had been at school for seven years and only passed the third standard. Witness instanced the boy's dullness by saying that he could not correctly count his weekly wages (15s). Herbert Beale, partner in the firm of Beale and Par ton, Ltd., said that deeaased was a bound apprentice and had been with the firm nearly three years. He was attentive to his work, but was very slow at learning. He ] did not seem dissatisfied with his ■ Work. Frederick Osborne, journeyman tinsmith, employed by Beale and Parton, Ltd., stated that he saw the deceased alive for the last time about 4 o'clock on "Thursday afternoon, when he said that he felt tired. Witness was talki"g to the deceased, and the latter then went away, apparently going outside. He then seemed in good spirits. . Norman Morris, another of the 1 firm's employees, said he was work- i ing with the deceased on Thursday, j and he seemed to be well. The de- ' ceased left the bench at about 4.15 j o'clock, and went out. As he did j not return, witness went to look for I him about 4.55 p.m., and found him I hanging from a beam above the shop, j Witness summoned some of the other ! employees, and . the body was cut | down. Witness had never heard the deceased say anything about doing himself an injury. Arthur Edmund Harvey, tinsmith, described how the body was hanging when he cut it down. Efforts at resuscitation were made, but without elect. Dr. Cowie was tent for as soon a3 the body was found. The deceased had never made any complaints and seemed to be rather cheerful. | Dr. Cowie deposed to being called to Beale and Parton's shop shortly after 5 o'clock on Thursday after- i noon, when he saw the body of the deceased lying in the passage, j Efforts were being made at artificial respiration, and this was continued for about an hour without any effect. Upon an examination, witness discovered that death was due to pasphyxia. He did r.ot think the neck was broken. Oscar Wellington, a feliovv em • ployee of the deceased's, stated that deceased said on two or three occasions when ha became "muddled" in his work, that he would hang himself. He last made this remark about a fortnight or three weeks ago. Witness thought the deceased was j only joking. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide while temporarily insane.