A FATHER’S SUICIDE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1816, 24 July 1906, Page 3

A FATHER’S SUICIDE

PRESS ASSOCIATION Christohuroh, last night. Farther details of the tragedy at Governor’s Bay on Saturday evening ■bow that Pope, who is the father of six little girls, oommitted suioida by blowing his head off with a double-barrelled gun before the eyes of bia 14-year-old daughter Annie.

On Saturday afternoon he went shoot ing on the Cashmere hills, and returned borne in the eveDiDg. Missing bis wife, who bad gono out to lock for him, he reaohed home before her, and beiDg met et the door by bis little daughter, Annie, arked the ohild where her msthar was. The girl replied that her mother was out, ■Dd he tbrn said be wanted to Bay “ Goodbyr,” as be was goiDg to shoot himself. He walked to the end of the house, and the little girl bow him pat the muzzle of the gun in his mouth and press the trigger with tho toe of bis boot. The obarge exploded, shattering the skull and blowing his brains cu'. 1 Tbo liiiis girl, horrified, rushed down Aha road, and mit her mother oomiDg in, and meanwhile the neighbors, attraoted by the report of the gur, hurried to the home, and found the man lying dead.

The child Baid her father did not seem to be the worse for Tquo\ About two years ego Pope fell out of a cart, and sustained injuries to his bead. He frequently threatened to oommit suicide, and on one oocaßion, while he was under the influence of drink, be made an attempt to Bboot himself, but failed, the shot goiDg tbrongh the roof of the house,

An inqueet was held at Lyttelton this afternoon, at which a verdict of eu’oide while of uoßound mind was returned.