SUICIDE AT PATUTAHI.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 229, 5 October 1901, Page 2

SUICIDE AT PATUTAHI.

A WELL-KNOWN CONTRACTOR SHOOTS HIMSELF.

At ten o'clock yesterday morning, Sergeant Siddells received information from a son of Mr John Morrow, of Patutalii, that Mr James Henderson, a well-known contractor in that district, had been found dead in the garden on the river-bank at the back of Mr Dover's residence, at Patutalii, and that it was believed he had shot himself, but whether accidentally or otherwise was not known. Mr Barton, S.M., accompanied by Sergeant Siddells, left town at one o'clock for the purpose of holding an inquest. Constable Farmer having previously gone from Ormond to l’atutahi. The body was removed to the Patutalii Hotel, where an inquest was held before Mr Barton, S.M., and the following jury : Messrs 'William Robb (foreman), George Scragg, Robert Craili. Thomas Hide, T. J. Smith, and W. Bayliss. Constable Farmer proceeded to call evidence. John Morrow deposed that deceased came to his place between 6 and 7 o'clock that morning. lie said, “ Good morning,” and asked witness if he would let him have a gun to shoot a couple of roosters with. Witness told him that he could have the gun, but that he had no ammunition. Henderson replied that he had some of his own. Witness gave him the gun, and he said he would return it in about ten minutes, to which Morrow replied that it didn't matter—he would I call for it- when he came back from the factory, which he did. He saw Mrs Henderson, and asked if her husband had done with the gun. She said, " What gun '! ” and he replied, “ The gun | that I lent him to shoot two roosters I with.” She said he hadn't any roosters, 1 but*might be shooting turkeys. She said, ! “ I will go and ask Frank,” which she did, ; and Frank Harrison came to him then and said James had not been there since early that morning. Witness said, “ I lent Henderson a gun to shoot roosters with,” and at that moment they heard the report of a gun. Frank said, “We had better go and look for Henderson,” and they both went straight away in the direction in which they had heard the shot. Witness asked his sou if he had heard the report of a gun, and he said he had, and that his dog had run down into Dover’s orchard. They followed the dog, and there found Henderson lying dead. Deceased, when he saw him, appeared to ho in his usual state of health. Questioned by Constable Farmer, witness stated that Dover’s orchard was about twenty yards from deceased’s house. It was between 6.30 and 6.45 when he lent him the gun, and it was about 9.30 when he heard the shot fired.

By the Foreman : Deceased had never to his knowledge threatened to commit suicide. The gun was lying from deceased’s foot at an angle. The muzzle was nearest the boot. Deceased used a No. 12 cartridge. Witness had no suspicion when ho lent deceased the gun that he intended to destroy himself, lie had not handlod the gun since he gave it to deceased. Frank Harrison, a ploughman, gavo corroborative evidence. By the Foreman : lie did not think tho deceased had been in his right senses for the last two months. lie noticed that deceased during the last two weeks had been peculiar in his manner. By the Coroner : He had heard that deceased had some trouble, but could not say what it was. lie did not know of any monetary trouble. Francis Harris, settler, Gisborne, stated that he knew deceased well. Ho was aware that deceased had been in financial difficulties. Ho was also awaro that tho bailiff was in possession of deceased's promises that morning, having been put in that morning. Witness saw deeeased on Tuesday morning, and also last week. He noticed that his manner was peculiar two months ago. Ho asked witness to back him for JjilO, as he was in debt. Witness observed by the paper that some of his men had put in an attachment claim to to tho Council for wages, Tho Jury found a verdict of “ Suicide whilst temporarily insane.” Much sympathy is felt throughout the district for the widow and family of deceased in their sad bereavement.