DEATH OF SOLDIER INVESTIGATED The death of a soldier, who after he had been reported absent without leave was found dead on the recreation grounds of a military camp near Christchurch, was investigated in one of 12 inquests held before the Coroner (Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.), at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon. The soldier was Eric Exon Knight, aged 21, and it was found he committed suicide on May 3 by poisoning himself with salts of prussic acid. Dr. H. T. B. Pearson, a medical officer in the camp, said that before noon on May 3, he saw Knight on the sports ground lying on his back. He had been dead several hours. There was, witness said, no evidence of the cause of death, and no sign of a struggle or foul play. Lieutenant B. W. Baxter said he had been told at 6.45 o’clock on the morning of May 3 that Knight was absent without leave. Two letters he had left by his bed indicated intention to commit suicide. A search party sent out had found the body at 11.45 o’clock. Frederick A. Buckley, manager of a photography processing department, said that Knight, before leaving for military service, had served an apprenticeship for several years under him. Potassium of cyanide was in general use in the workroom, and Knight had been told it was a deadly poison. When he left the employ of the witness he had a. key of the department which he had been asked to return. Medical evidence was given by Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Public Hospital, who conducted a post-mortem examination.

PRESS, VOLUME LXXVIII, ISSUE 23685, 9 JULY 1942, PAGE 6