BOY’S SUICIDE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1933, Page 4

BOY’S SUICIDE

DOMESTIC TROUBLE

DISTRESSING ROTORUA TRAGEDY iJ’er Press Association — Copyright.) ROTORUA, February 14. A bim.rei.smg tragedy occurred here o.i .Sunday evening, when "Patrick Buvke .berguan, a sixtesn-year-old Riga iicliobi u.y, Anas found lying in a Moving cod'd.- uon in the bathroom of his ncme, w.th a. rifle beside him. A doctor wa.3 immediately summoned, and the boy was: rushed to the hospital, and he never regained consciousness, and lie died shortly after midnight. A shot was heard by the boy’s stepfather, T. B. K. McArthur, who rushed in to find the boy dying. Berghan was a popular lad, a good athlete, and cf a bright disposition. An inquest A\'a.s opened, to-day for identification, and was adjourned sine die.

A note 'was left for his mother by the boy, indicating that he contemplated suicide.

Statements made -to the police to-day indicate that the tragedy followed on a family difference, in which the boy, his mother, and his stepfather, T. B. K. AlcArthur, dentist, of Rotorua, were involved.

McArthur had returned from, the l'acA, and early in the evening he decided to po and procure cigarettes. His wife wished to accompany him, but ha refuted, and -an argument developed, The boy attempted to pmtent his stepfather from Raving the lionise, whereupon, the- -stepfather and son, struggjled together. AlcArthur -then lift the house by the back door, leaving the boy with his mother and two younger children, Avli-o- were also in the house.

Returning shortly before 10 o’clock, McArthur hud just entered his bedroom when lie heard a rifle shot. Rushing to the rear of the house, he found the t-oy in the lavatory, leaning agafost the w°lil, and with the rifle beside him. The lad was immediately rushed to I lie hospital, hut he never regained consciousness. He died shortly after midnight. Bergham Ava-s a- prominent member of the Rotorua High School first fifteen, and a- very popular lad, of -a bright disposition. Tim inquest-opened to-day was on-lv for identification, and Avas adjourned sine die.