Suicide of a Schoolmaster

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 50, 7 October 1886, Page 2

Suicide of a Schoolmaster

(PEB UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland. October 6. John Gurr, headmaster ef the Onehnnga Pablic School, was found drowned this morning at the Mangere Bridge, Manukau Harbour. It is evidently a case of determined suicide, as a rope was tied round his body and fastened to a pile of the bridge, the body thus being dragged under by the rush of the tide. Grave charges were pending against Gurr of misconduct with pupils at the school, and this is nupposod to have led him to commit the act. He was an elderly man with fire children, and high abilities — mueical as well as educational— and was chairman of the Auckland branch of the .New Zealand Teachers' Institute. Previous to visiting Dr Erson deceased went to the office of Mr Wastney, solicitor, and made his will, which was witnessed by Richard Bright. During a conversation which he had with Bright, deceased said he would accept advice and leave the place, but pointed out that he could not take his family with him licensed was not seen again after 10 15. Hit daughter usually brought his breakfast up to him. and this morning she brought the meal into deceased's room, b«t found ha was n«t there. She discovered a letter lying on the table addressed to the Eev. M"r &f ulgan, Church of England clergyman, Onehunga. She made inquiries for his whereabouts, and was greatly shocked when she learned that he had destroyed himself. The young lady states that her father never told hi 8 family what had been preferred against him. In the letter addressed to the Rev. Mr Mulgan deceased said: " Look after my children, and break the news gently, to my family. Look near the little bridge." Gurr retained Mr C. F. Button last week to defend him. He told a friend when his wife went South that having got rid «f her he would fi^ht it out in the Supreme Court. One of deceased's sons is in business in Parnell, and another is in the Government Insurance office at Wellington. Gurr was transferred to Onehunga from Christchurch 15 months ago, and bo was for* merely a teacher at InvercargiU, and Inspector of Schools at Cnristchurch. Later. The inquest on Gurr, head teacher of the Onehunga school, takes place toinorr«w. He had made his will last night; he also saw Dr Erson. He was in a depressed state, and had retained Mr Button to defend him against the charges made by the School Committee.