SUICIDE AT PATUTAHI.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2519, 4 June 1909, Page 6

SUICIDE AT PATUTAHI.

' VERDICT OF TEMPORARY INSANITY. Early yesterday morning word was received by Sergeant Hutton t-liat a middle-aged man named Robert Gillespie. had eommitteed suicide at Patutahi by cutting his throat, with a razor. Sergeant Hutton at once >nt Constable Dandy out to make further inquiries. On arriving at Patutahi Constable Dandy found that the suicide had occurred at the Patutahi hotel, and that the deceased had been suffering from melancholia. He retired to bed as usual at about hailf-past 10 on-Wed-nesday night, and was seen at that time by a boarder named David Bamburv, who slept in the same, bedroom. At 7 this morning Bambury was awakened by some noise, and he got up and found it was from deceased, who had ’cut his throat with a razor. Mrs. Taylor, wife of the license, also heard the noise, and came to the man’s assistance. He, however, never recovered ■consciousness, and died. Dr. Scott was ’sent f.or, and subsequently saw the body. Deceased was a single man, 45 years of age. >He was a laborer, and had resided on four acres of land at Patutahi for about eleven years. .Some months ago he broke his leg, and had been unable to do much work of late, and this apparently preyed on his mind. He was a man of sober habits. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at Patutahi, before Mr. D. B. Watt, J.P. The following jury was empanelled: Messrs Edgar Knight (foreman), Joseph Patterson, William Milne, Reginald Goodchap, James Atkins,’ and Thomas Dineen. Evidence was given by David Bambury, Sarah Ann Taylor, Harry Ritchie, and Constable Dandy. A verdict was returned to the effect that deceased during a fit of temporary insanity cut his throat.