SUICIDE AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17493, 29 August 1928, Page 6

SUICIDE AT CAMBRIDGE.

WELL-KNOWN RESIDENT. FOUND WITH THROAT CUT. BLOOD-STAINED RAZOR NEARBY. (Special to Times.) CAMBRIDGE Wednesday. Charles James Peake, stock agent-, of Cambridge, aged about 55 years, was found lying in a room at his home, Grey Street., Cambridge at about, 9.15 last night. When found deceased had a severe wound across his throat, and a bloodstained razor was lying about two feet away. On the discovery of the tragedy a medical man was sent for, and on arrival found the injured man alive, but he expired almost immediately. Deceased was a keen hunting enthusiast and a member of the Cambridge Trotting Club. He had been employed as a stock agent by the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Co., Ltd., for six years, hut relinquished his position some six months ago. He is survived by his wife and four children, two boys and two girls. An inquest will be held to-day. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. VERDICT OF SUICIDE. (Special to Times.) CAMBRIDGE, Wednesday. An inquest on the death of Charles Peake was held at deceased's house before Mr F. W. Platts, S.M., Coroner, this morning. Dr. Ritchie stated that in answer to a call about, 9.20 last evening he went to ihe late Mr Peake’s house, and found him dying, with his throat cut! He inserted some stitches, but the late Mr Peake died soon after. Constable Jones deposed that he went to deceased's house in response to a telephone call and found him lying in a hack room near a pool of blood with a razor a few feet away. Peake’s throat was very badly cut. Adelaide Alice Brown said the deceased passed her bedroom just after 9 p.m. He came into her bedroom while she was with her aunt. Kathleen Brown, aunt of the previous witness, slated tha Peake drew a razor across his throat, cutting it deeply, in front of them, and then left the room and went to the back of the house. Gertrude Georgina Peake, widow of deceased, said she was away at Hautapu last night. A motor car called for her at 9.20 p.m., and she went home in it. On arrival she found that her husband had cut his throat. When she left to go to llautapu her husband was under the influence of liquor. He was much addicted to drink. He arrived home at 7 p.m., and just before she went out he went to bed. A verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind brought about by drink, was returned.