Prominent, beside State Highway 1 between Waihola and Milton, is the Ewing Phospate Company building, built in brick to process and store phospahte rock from a nearby quarry.
SUPPOSED SUICIDE.
— [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, This Day. At 7 o'clock this morning the body of Mr. Ralph Ewing, managing director of the Ewing Phosphate Company, was found on the main road at Clarendon with the throat cut. Mr. Ewing had been in ill-health for some time, and despondent. He was forty-five years of age, single, and lived by himself at the works. -Bruce Herald, 24/11/1910.
MR RALPH EWING DEAD
APPARENTLY SUICIDE.
The many friends of Mr Ralph Ewing, the managing director of the Ewing Phosphate Company, will be shocked to learn that he was found on the Main South road, near Clarendon, this morning, with his throat cut, and under circumstances pointing to suicide. An employe of the company, Bernard Wisneskey, found the body when going to work at seven o'clock. An open knife lay beside him, with a pipe and tobacco.
Deceased was forty-five years of age and single. He lived near the works in a one-roomed cottage, and alone. His condition of late had caused much anxiety to his friends, for he complained greatly of sleeplessness, and was in a highly nervous state. But he resisted all endeavors to get him to move into a more comfortable place and have a housekeeper, evidently preferring to be alone. His generosity and thoughtfulness earned him universal popularity in the district, among his employees and the residents alike, who will all regret his untimely death.
Mr Bartholomew, S.M., opened an inquest at Waihola this afternoon. -Evening Star, 23/11/1910.
Death of Mr Ralph Ewing at Clarendon.
The news of the sad end of Mr Ralph Ewing, manager of Ewing Phosphate Co, at Clarendon, caused a shock throughout this district yesterday morning. Mr R. Ewing had been somewhat despondent of late, as a result of an attack of insomnia, but not the slightest suspicion was entertained that he would seek self-destruction as a release. The body of the unfortunate young man was discovered about seven o'clock yesterday morning lying on the side of the main road near Clarendon railway station. The deceased had apparently given way to a tit of despondency, and cut his throat, with a pocket knife. Near the body were two well-filled portmanteaux and a travelling rug, from which it would appear that deceased had intended travelling by the early morning train. Life was extinct when the shocking discovery was made. The police were at once communicated with, and Constable MacRae, accompanied by Dr Sutherland, were quickly on the scene. The late Mr Ewing, who was a young man in the prime of life, was well-known in this district, and was universally esteemed for his genial and kindly manner by all with whom he came in contact. His workmen at the Clarendon works speak in high terms of his generous consideration towards themselves, and his loss is sadly regretted. The funeral took place this afternoon, the remains being interred at Clarendon Cemetery.
THE INQUEST. An inquest was held at deceased's residence yesterday afternoon, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M. Evidence as to identification was given by deceased's brother, Robert Anderson Ewing, who stated that deceased was 45 years of age. He had been in bad health for some time past, and had been attending a doctor in Dunedin.
Thomas Cockburn, stationmaster, Waihola, stated that he had known deceased intimately for the past three years. Witness had noticed during the past week that deceased appeared quiet and despondent. In the course of conversation on the previous day deceased had complained of being unwell, and that he was restless at night. Witness had recommended him to go for a trip as a change, and deceased appeared to acquiesce in the suggestion.
Fred Knight, foreman at Milburn phosphate works, who lives close to deceased's residence, was the last person to see deceased alive, when he came to witness' residence on Tuesday evening about 9 o'clock for the pay-sheet. Deceased had complained of feeling unwell, but stated he felt better, and was quite cheerful when talking to witness.
Charles Rush, railway surfaceman, gave evidence as to finding the body about 7 a.m. lying near witness' residence, on the side of the road. Life was quite extinct. Near the body were two portmanteaux and a rug, from which it would appear that deceased intended travelling by the morning train. Witness remained by the body until Bernard Wisnesky arrived.
Bernard Wisnesky, who was next on the scene, also gave evidence re discovery of the body, and witness cycled back to Waihola, and communicated with the police at Milton and Dunedin, through the Railway Department. Medical evidence was given by Dr Jas Sutherland, after which a verdict was returned that deceased committed suicide while temporarily insane. -Bruce Herald, 24/11/1910.
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