WORRIED ABOUT DUCKS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 13672, 4 May 1912, Page 7

WORRIED ABOUT DUCKS.

SYDNEY, April 17. A verdict of suicide by strychnine poisoning was returned by the City Coroner to-day in the case of Samuel John Hocking, aged 54 ears, who died at his residence in Premier Street, iVlarriekviilc, cn cue evening of April 12. The evidence was that Hocking had been disturbed about the slow return of three ducks, which were on exhibition at the Agricultural Show. On the evening of the tragedy he asked his daughter it she had rung up about those birds. He seemed satisfied with her reply, saying, "That is all right; so long as we get them home to-morrow”; but immediately after this he broke into a passion. He then rushed outside, and, returning again, said, "I’ll fix them for this,” whereupon he approached the mantelpiece, took from the clock some strychnine, and dashed into the yard followed by one of bis guests, a grazier. He ran through the gate hading to the fowl run, placed his foot against the closed gate, and exclaimed, "I’ve taken strvchninc!"