SUICIDE OF A FAMOUS CRICKETER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2429, 7 April 1915, Page 6

SUICIDE OF A FAMOUS CRICKETER

A. E. STODDART SHOOTS HIMSELF (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) London, April 5. Tile- "Echo" newspaper reports that A. B. Stoddart, tlie cricketer, shot himself. He was in financial difficulties. At the inquest, his widow gave evidence that Stoddart 'had resigned the secretaryship of the Queen's Club owing to nervous breakdown, and had not worked since. Ho was very depressed. Ho lost money through tho war. Late on Saturday night lie took a pistol from his pocket, and said he was "Going to finish it." His wife advised him to'consult friends. She had a slight struggle with him and secured tho pistol, but returned it as it was unloaded. However, she took- a bos of cartridges.. Later slio found him dead in bed, and afterwards found that ho had another box of cartridges. A verdict of suicide was returned. The most popular captain that has over visited the Australian shores," said Ranjitsinghi in his book "With Stoddart in Australia." "His own genial manners, frankness, and even temperament have endeared him to the public of the Old as well as the Now Country, and there is .not a cricketer in England who is so deservedly popular for personal good qualities as Andrew Ernest Stoddart. There is but little doubt that there is no player who is so eenuinely loved and admired in Australia as our captain. As a plaver, he combines the qualities of a hitter with the skill of a scientifio batsman. It would not bo incorrect to state that he is, _ perhaps, the most under-rated hitter in Enrrland: and I think that it is a good deal because he combines great skill with method in his hittiug, unlike most hitters of the Frank Siwnt or Jessop order. His forward stvle is. indeed, perfection ; his driving, when in tip-top form, is worthy of the most accomplished batsman: and he has (when playing one of his great innings with which he has so often delighted the nublic) 110 superior in brilliance." Stoddart, who was also known to fame in tho sporting world as n footballer and sprinter, was a member of the 'Middlesex Eleven. In August, 1886. he made the highest score on Tecord —485—for Hampstead v. Stoics. Ho captained England both at cricket and football, and twice wns captain to English representative teams which visited Australia. (Rec. April 7, 0.15 a.m.) London, April 6. The medical evidence showed that Stoddart was suffering from pneumonia which increased his mental depression.