A WESTPORT TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2582, 17 August 1909, Page 4

A WESTPORT TRAGEDY.

SUFFOCATED BY GAS

(l’cr Press Association.,

WESTPORT, August 16. John S. Donaldson, local agent of the Stockton Coal Company, was found dead in the office this morning. The appearance points to suicide by inhaling gas. Deceased was the son of Mr Donaldson, senior police magistrate, of Sydney. An inquest was held to-night touching the death of John Stewart Donaldsno, who was found dead in the Stockton Company’s olfice this morning, Donaldson being branch manager for the Stockton Company. The office boy and others gave evidence about finding the body wrapped up in a blanket, face downwards, with the chin on a pillow close to the gas metre, with a detached end of a tube from a gas ring under the deceased’s nose. A witness named Munro stated that deceased appeared to worry a good deal about business matters,' and he had told him not to take things so seriously, as there was no occasion for it. Mason and Wallis, fellow boarders, stated that tho deceased complained a good deal about tile'nature of his work requiring long hours on the wharf and much night work, causing sleeplessness, and that he found it necessary at times to snatch same sleep at the oifice. Wallis stated that when ho was leaving deceased on Sunday afternoon lie inquired what he was going to do that evening, and the deceased said ho was going to do some work at tho office and try to get- a little sleep, as ho was feeling very tired. The deceased was usually in a bright frame of mind, and had no cause, as far as witness was aware, for worry. The doctor’s evidence was that death was due to asphyxiation, caused by inhaling coal gas. Sergeant Deat said that he saw no evidence to suggest a reason for suicide, and the Coroner. Mr. Sinclair, endorsed this view, and returned a verdict in accordance with the doctor’s evidence.