TRAGIC DEATH OF A BANK CLERK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1753, 19 May 1913, Page 4

TRAGIC DEATH OF A BANK CLERK.

CORONER'S FINDING. CASE OF PURE MISADVENTURE. , Inquiry was held 011 Saturday by DP, M'Arthiir (coroner) into tho circumstance! surrounding the death of liex Desmond' Coker, a clerk 111 the Bank of New South Wales, who was found dead in 0110 of (lit tellers' Ixjxcs on Friday. Sergeant F. Txiwin watched proceedings 011 behulf of tlio police. Medical evidence was given by Dr. Henry, who stated that he was called to tho bank at !l a.m. oil Friday, and saw deceased lying 011 the floor. There was a wound in the centre ot tho forehead, evidently caused by the. discharge of a firearm. Tho edges of the wound were scorched , and blackened, and there was evidence of a fracture at tho back of tlio head. Death must have been instantaneous. . Thomas Bush, clothier, stated that deceased was a nephew of his, and was twenty-two years of age. Ho was at witness's house up till halt-past ten 011 Thursday 'night. Ho iwag, in perfect health, and was by nnturo of a very cheerful disposition. > Witness hnd never known him to tie despondent, and did not know of anything that would havo been troubling him. Ronald Allan Douglas, bill clerk, stated that ho saw .Coker lat the bank 011 Friday morning at 8.35. Witness bade him "Good

Thomas Bush, clothier, stated that deceased was a nephew of his, and was twenty-two years of age. Ho was at witness's house up till halt-past ten 011 Thursday 'night. Ho iwafo in perfect health, and was by nature of a very cheerful disposition. > Witness had never known him to be despondent, and did not know of anything that would havo been troubling him. Ronald Allan Douglas, bill clerk, stated that ho saw Coker lat the bank 011 Friday morning at 8.35. Witness bade him "Good morning," and. deceased replied brightly. Coker was then in tho first teller's com* hartmont. Ho would not bo there, in business hours, but at that time of tho morning 110 was quite in order in sitting at tho table there. The .sub-accountant, who was about to go down to unlock tho. vaults, was called by the manager, and lie handed tho keys over toui clerk and witness. This clerk and witness were about to go to the vaults when they heard a revolver shot. They at ones ran to' tlio teller's bos, and found deceased in a half-sitting position on tho floor. Witness raised deceased, but tlio latter did not speak. He could see that' deceased had been shot through tho centre of tlio forehead. Dr. Henry was immediately called. Deceased had b'ebn in the bank for about 18 months, and was of a. cheerful disposition, no was u member of tho territorial force and (00k a great interest in military work. The revolver (produced) was ono of those,provided by tho bank. The revolvers ivero supposed to bo always fully loaded. In reply to a question liut by the Coroner, witness stated that deceased was not in any money trouble at the bank. Everything was all right. Henry lirueo Morison, second teller, employed in the Bank of New South Wales, said that ho had known the deceased intimately for nbout nine years. He was of a very bright temperament, and was healthy and strong. Witness saw him at about 8.40 a,in. on Friday in the teller's room. Ho was sitting 011 u chair near a table; and had a revolver on his knees. ' There wore three earU ridges on tlio table, Witness said, "Hallo, what are you up to?" Deceased replied, "I am just fixing this'; up" (meaning tho revolver). Witness then left deceased, and about five minutes later ho heara tho report. He ran into the teller's box, and saw deceased, with a bullet-wound oil his forehead. ■. 111 reply to Sergeant ijowin, witncei stated that ho had never seen deceased examine the bank revolvers before. It was nothing unusual for deceased to be in tho. teller's room. Ho knew thnt deceased took an interest iii firearms., Sergeant Frank Lowiir gave evidence as to finding the revolver lying on tho floor by the deceased- Witness added that ho had mado extensivo inquiries, but there was nothing to show thut deceased was in financial difliculties or coutcuiplated doing any ruslr net. Tho Coroner said"Deceased died from a shot-wound accidentally inflicted by himself whilst examining a revolver used 111 tho Bank of New South Wales during tho hours "-of ordinary business. There is nothing to show any suggestion that the deceased was in any way noilfinancial nor in any other tVouble. -Thio is 011 c of those accidents iA which we must regret tho loss of a good young'man 'through, nil absolute misadventure."