Shocking Suicide.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 197, 21 December 1893, Page 2

Shocking Suicide.

Quite a sensation was caused in town this morning when the news was circulated that a young man named Ernest Pickering had committed suicide by shooting himself. Pickering has for some time been living in a cottage on the property of Mr Fetch with Mr A. Haynes, who is in the employ of Mr Fetch. Deceased has been suffering from insomnia, and last evening Hayne came in to Feilding to see Dr Charlton and get a sleeping draught, and it was his intention to come in again this morning and take the doctor out. With this intention Hayne was catching his horse, which was in a small paddock near the cottage, when he heard the report of a gun. The sound was so dull that ho believed something had dropped on the floor in- the cottage, and he quietly led his horse up, but was much surprised to see Mr Pickering lying on the floor, he having shot himself by placing the muzzle of a gun in his mouth and discharging it. Mr Hayne had not been absent more than two or three minutes, and was much shocked on finding his mate lying dead. He at once galloped into town to inform the police and Dr Charlton, who went out, but death must have been instantaneous. Deceased was about twenty-seven years of age, and was highly respected by those who knew him, and much regret is expressed at his untimely end. The time the fatality occurred was about 9.45. An inquest will be held.