DEAD IN CAR

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20463, 1 April 1938, Page 8

DEAD IN CAR

SHAREBROKER’S SUICIDE ESTATE BELIEVED INSOLVENT SON GIVES EVIDENCE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday A statement that his father’s financial worries would have been substantial and that as far as he knew the estate was insolvent was made this morning by Eric Pryce Newburgh at the concluding sitting of the inquest .into the death of his father, Thomas N'ew’burgh, a former Mayor of Sumner, and a well-known city sharebroker. Thomas Newburgh was found dead in his car in a quarry near Culverden on March 15 and leading into the car from the exhaust pipe was a piece of hose which had carried deadly carbon monoxide -gas into the machine, which had all but one of the windows closed. Mr. H. A. Y’oung, S.M., coroner, returned a verdict that Newburgh committed suicide on March 14 by inhaling carbon monoxide gas. Telegram to Friend John Edward Tait said that he knew Newburgh. On March 15, at 9.40 a.m., he received the following telegram which read: “Quarry Tuesday morning.” Witness added that he did not know who the telegram was from and accordingly he communicated with the postmaster at Culverden, from whence the telegram was received. The postmaster informed him that the telegram was signed “Thomas Newburgh” on the back. He then rang Newburgh’s office and the dead man’s son told him his father was missing. Witness then asked a son, Ralph Leslie Newburgh, to come to his office and both then left for the quarry at Culverden. "Qn arrival at the quarry,” Tait declared, “I saw Newburgh’s car in the quarry and in the driver’s seat I saw Newburgh. I found he was dead and it would appear that death had taken place some hours previously.” No Intention Given Erio Pryce Newburgh (27), a son of the dead man and a member of the fTrm of Thomas Newburgh and Son, said he was in Sydney at the time of his father’s death. “Since I returned home I took charge of the office and of my father’s affairs,” Newburgh went on. “My father did not leave any note about his office or at his home indicating his intention to take his life. I received a letter from my father about a week prior to his death and there was nothing in the letter to indicate that he was worried in any way. On the contrary, the letter seemed to be written in a cheerful mood. Suffered from Nerves “I do know that my father was suffering from nerves for a number of years and jn my opinion the worries of business were just too much for him. I know now since I took charge of the business that his financial worries would be substantial. He did not confide in anyone that he had financial worries. “As far as I know my father’s estate is Insolvent and I have made application to the Supreme Court to have the estate administered in bankruptcy and the Official Assignee to take charge.” Before giving his verdict, the coroner explained that he had taken evidence at Culverden on two previous occasions. A postal clerk gave evidence that a telegram was handed in to him on the evening of March 14. The man who handed it in did not seem to be excited but seemed quite normal. He asked that it should be sent on next morning and that was done at 9 o’clock.