A SAD END.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14259, 16 November 1920, Page 5

A SAD END.

*>F MASTERTON RESIDENT. MR EDWIN FEIST FOUND DEAD. IN TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES. The many friends of Mr Edwin heist, -of High street, Masterton, will regret i:o learn that he was found dead in anost tragic circumstances early this morning. The late Mr Feist, who was 79 years old, had for some considerable time been in failing health, and upon ‘ the advice of his doctor left for a trip to Napier on the sth instant to see if a •change would make any improvement. His run-down condition also made him worry over imaginary troubles in con•aeetion with his financial position. By the 3 o’clock train yesterday afternoon the late Mr Feist returned to Masterton. He' was suffering from diarrhoea, and Mrs Harvey, the housekcei>er, visited Dr. Cowie and obtained a prescription. Deceased took a •dose of medicine at 7 p.m., and sat talKin- by the fire till about 11 o’clock. Mr Feist was given another dose of medicine by Mrs Harvey, who then retired. Deceased remarked that he would shortly go to bed, but that he did not expect to get much sleep. Mrs Harvey ..later heard Mr Feifet going upstairs. She then went to sleep, and . did not till 6 o’clock this morning. Upon arising this morning the housekeeper was surprised to find the back door open. Mrs Harvey looked out, and saw that the front gate leading on to High street was also open, and thought -.-that Mr Feist must have gone out sgomewhere. She looked round about, • and as she did not see Mr Feist, she went to Mr John Dagg’s house, near rby, and rang up Dr. Cowie to see if Mr Feist had called upon him. An answer in the negative was received. Mr Dagg accompanied Mrs Harvey back, and upon entering the stable at Air Feist’s solved the mystery of the .•deceased’s whereabouts. Oyer the stable is a loft, and an opening in the floor allows access from the stable to 'the top tioor. To a rafter at the top •of the loft a rope had been tied, and Air Feist Is body was hanging with a loop round the neck. The body was only partly through the opening, and it appeared that had deceased wished he could have supported himself by pacing his elbows on either side of the narrow opening. The deceased was fully clothed, with the exception that he had removed his boots, and had hung Bis coat and vest upon a. peg in the stable. . Sergeant Miller was immediately . communicated with, and in company with Dr. Cowie visited the scene, but the doctor could only pronounce life to tie extinct. A coroner ’s inquest will be held. A WORTHY CITIZEN. The late Mr Edwin Feist, who was highly respected and esteemed by the whole community, was born in Framfield, Sussex, in 1842, .and was educated, at East Hothly. He came to Wellington in 1865 in the good ship Mallard. ■Having served aii apprenticeship to the grocery and drapery business in Blet■ehingly, Surrey, lie joined his brother in Masterton in premises near the Queen’s Hotel, now occupied as a printing establishment. The late Air Feist carried on the business successfully from 1870 till 1888, when he sold out and retired from business, with the exception of a lire insurance agency w'hieli lie continued to hold. Air Feist was one of 'the first, councillors of the borough of Masterton, having occupied a seat on the local Board for some years previously. He was elected Alayor of Masterton in the year 1880. As chairman of the i’emetery Trustees, chairman of the Alasterton School Committee, and as secretary, chairman and member of the Trust Lands Trust, member of the Park

Trust, and other public bodies, the .deceased gentleman did splendid service, his honesty of purpose in all his public life winning for him general respect and confidence. The late Mr Feist took a keen interest in the prohibition movement, and was a devoted member of the local Presbyterian Church, of which he

was secretary and treasurer for many Aivears. In every movement that had ■for its object the welfare of the church, ™ ‘Mr Feist was an ardent worker, and his demise will be keenly felt by the members and adherents of Knox

Church. He was also an active member yif the Masterton Bowling Club. In the year 1868 the late Mr Feist married a daughter of the late Rev. John McQueen, Free Church minister of Deviot, Inverness, who predeceased him. some years ago. There are two daughters. General sympathf will be extended to -the sorrowing relatives in their sad and sudden bereavement. The funeral will leave Knox Church iit 1.30 o’clock to-morrow afternoon.