INQUEST CONCLUDED

Waipa Post, Volume 45, Issue 3208, 26 July 1932, Page 5

INQUEST CONCLUDED

EVIDENCE OF MENTAL DEPRESSION. ' The inquest into the death of Robert Lowe, of Mangapiko, who was found dead in a stream a few hundred yards from his homestead on 19th July, was continued at Te Awamutu Courthouse on Monday afternoon, before the coroner, Mr G. A. Empson. Harriet J. Lowe, in evidence, said her husband left the house at about 2 p.m. on the 18th instant, saying he was going to block a hole in a fence where pigs had been getting through. At nearly 3 p.m. she received a telephone call from her. daughter at Pirongia saying she and. her husband were coming. She sent a boy. Slade, to tell Mr Lowe of this. The boy came back later to say he could not find Mr Lowe, but that his slasher was on the bank of the stream. By that time Mr and Mrs Smith had arrived, and her son-in-law went with the boy to look for Mr Lowe, but they returned., Mr Smith saying the boy had found the waistcoat and hat near the stream. Witness' husband had not been in normal health for several months, and seemed to be worse in recent weeks. A heifer fell on him and injured his back. He was unable to sleep at times, and had had medical treatment. He had complained to her of pains in the head", anH was in the previous few days very forgetful, and she had watched him carefully, fearing his forgetfulness would cause him injury, particularly when working the milking plant. Constable A. R. Rimmer said he was called by Herbert D. Smith at about 3.30 p.m., being informed that Smith's father-in-law was missing, and that he was believed to have fallen into the river. Witness motored to the farm, and proceeded to the river bank about 300 yards from the house. There he saw a waistcoat and hat, which Smith identified as Lowe's. On searching the locality witness could see nothing of the missing man. Later he was handed a photograph of Lowe by Smith, and on the back there was pencilled intimation that he intended to end his life. Mrs Lowe identified the writing as that of her husband. Next morning the river was dragged, and the body recovered in about 11 feet of water. Both wrists were bound with twine and a loop made. Deceased's leg was placed through this loop so as to tighten the loop and make it difficult to free his hands. There were no marks of violence on the body. The coroner said it seemed clear that I&we, an estimable.settler was at thHtime of his death mentally derangdd. The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide by drowning.