DEATH OF AIR HOBDAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1569, 12 October 1912, Page 4

DEATH OF AIR HOBDAY.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. Yesterday the District Coroner (Dr. M'Arthur) hold an inquiry into the circuinstanees mirronndinp tho death of Mr. Arthur Hobday, which occurred at the Wellington Hospital on Wednesday Inst. , ' Dr. J. H. Komp stated in cvidonpo that ho had boon called in to see deceased, at 8 α-m. on Wednesday morninc last, at No. 11 Lawrence Street, and had found him lying on tJio floor of tho front room with a bullet wound in the right temple. Ho was practically unconscious, and wit« ness directed that ho should bo removed tu tho Hospital. In his opinion do. ceased must havo shot himself not more than nn hour before ho (witness) was called in. Dr. Hardwiok Smith', mcdicnl super* intondent of tho WMlindton Hospital,' stated that deceased had been admitted to the institution at 9.80 a.m. on Wednesday, in an unconscious state. He had a wound in the right txmiple, and did not rognin consciousness. Death oconrivd at 10.-10 a.m. on tho same- day. Witness had known deceased for somo time. Ho (deceased) had been under medical treatment, and had not boen in n Rood state of health, A few days before his death, ho appeared to be very depressed. Sydney M. Hobday, snn of deceased, stated in evidence that ho hod heard nothine uhusunl on the night of October 8. He rose at S o'clock on the following morning, and then found his father lying on the floor in the front room. Witness went on to say that, since his mother's death, deceased" had not been very well physically and mentally, and ho appeared worried. Deceased did not mention flnr.nciiil difficulties to witness, nor did witness know of any. Deceased was Gl >Vi\rs old. The Coroner returned a vordict to tho effect that deceased died from the effects of a ptiiishot wound, solf-infiictod, whilst in a despondent stato of mind.