CITY TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1215, 25 August 1911, Page 2

CITY TRAGEDY.

BUSINESS MAN SHOOTS HIMSELF. Yesterday morning James Walter liraitliwaite, auctioneer, of 81 Manncis Stroet, was found in his office in a serious condition, and subsequently died. The circumstances of the tragic event were related an an inquest, held at tho hospital yesterday afternoon. ' Tho inciuest was conducted by Dr.' M'Arthur, S.M.

Dr. Henry cave evidence that ho was railed to 81 Manners Shoot at about 9 o'clock yesterday morning. Ho found tho deceased sitting in a chair with a bullet wound in the head. A revolver, which had evidently dropped from his hand, was lying on the ilcol below the right a hand. Braithwaito was not then conscious. Ho was removed to tho hospital, but wns practically dying thnn, there was no hope of his recovering. The wound was evidently self-inflicted. ' Dr. Hardwicko Smith stated that deceased was admitted to the liospita.l at--10 a.m., and died at 11.35 without recovering consciousness.

Goovgo Hegarty, a clerk in the employment of deceased, stated that ho went to the auction rooms at about two minutes to nine, and found the door just ajar. That was. unusual, as it was usually- wide open from eigh o'clock onwards. Sir. Braithwaite was sitting in the office chair filling his pipe, and foid "Good morning" cordially. Witness then passed through, ami in a couplo of minutes heard a report, as of a. weapon being fired. He did not take any notice- of tho report, imagining that it come from ,tho Opera Iloiisq, which is next <2onr. But, on returning to tho auction inurt, ho saw Mrs. Braithwaite standing on tho back doorstep crying. Ho at onco lookod into the office, and perceived Mr. Braithwailo Kitting in tho .lanio chair, but with his head back ftnd bleeding. A revolver was lying oil the floor. About threo weeks ago Braithwaito had brought the revolver to Hie office, and, on Monday; Inst, he brought it again, Isnt said, later in the day, that ho had fold it. He had been "rather queer" lately. Witness had been present when a constable found a. note addressed to Hegarty, which read: "Please do the best you can for my wife and dea-r children. J.W.8." On tho other side of the slip of paper was written: "I trust to your honour. I have done all I can for you in every way. Do all you can for my family. J.W.8." There was also nn envelope addressed to "Arty Woods,- care Mrs. Brait'nvaile," and containing a silver watch and chain, and postal notes for somn shillings. Mrs: Braitlrvaito, (ho wife of deceased, said that her husband had bron worrying more or less for the last year, and niiie months. He had lost, the clerkship o? the Town Board at Johnsouvillc, and that had worried him. About sixteen months ago he had had a _ fnll from a horse, and had received injuries to his head, sinco when he had been strango at times; ho had not always been himself. Hβ went home to .Tohnsonvilln at a quarter to six.on Wednesday evening, but did not wait for her, and did not conie homo again. Shu went to (he office on day morning, and found hor husband lying back in tho chair, apparently dead. Tho verdict was that deceased bad died from a wound solf-inflictc'l while temporarily of unsound mind.