SUPPOSED CASE OF SUICIDE.

Kumara Times, Issue 1708, 21 March 1882, Page 2

SUPPOSED CASE OF SUICIDE.

[west coast times.] On Saturday afternoon, about four o'clock, a boy named Robert Williams reported to Sergeant Moller that be had seen the body of a man lying on the sea beach, a short distance to the north and at the rear of Campbell's paddock on the Arahura road. Sergeant Moller immediately went to the spot and found the body, It was folly dressed, the clothes being undisturbed and in proper order. There was no flesh or skin whatever on the face or head, and the eyes Were gone, picked out probably by sea birds. The body was in a state of corruption and had evidently lain where it was found for some days. In the. pocket of the coat was found a Post Office Savings Bank took in the name of Bernard Heslin, depositor. The book showed that Heslin bad withdrawn £5 from the

Post Office on the 11th March. It) one of the trousers pockets, the sum of £5 6s was fouud in cash, and in one of the outside coat pockets were three needle percussion revolver cartridges. Sergeant Moller on finding the cartridges, conjectured that the deceased had shot himself, and Further search revealed a small five-chambered revolver, quite new. The weapon was lying close to the body. One chamber was loaded, one had evidently been dis* bharged, while the remaining three were empty. Subsequently the body was identified by Mr Macnamara, of Seweli street, as that of Bernard Heslin. It appears that the deceased had arrived here from. Queensland in January last. He obtained work with a farmer named Morgan at Arahura. He left Morgan about a fortnight ago and stopped for a couple of days with Macnamara. On Monday the 6th inst. he went to Ross, returning to Macnamara's on Friday the 10th. He told Macnamara he had taken up a claim at the new rush. He remained all night, and in the morning packed up his swag ready to go. Leaving Macnamara's about nine a.m. ou Saturday the 11th, the deceased went to the Post Office, and drew out the sum, £5, already referred to. Next he went to Cowlishaw and Plaisted's shop, where he bought a revolver and ammunition for which he paid £1 15s. Since then nothing seems £o have been seen of him, until the Recovery of his remains on the beach. No cause has been suggested for the buicide. The deceased was a sober, Bteady, and industrious man. He seemed rational and in fair spirits. The only relative he has in the colony is Mrs Traversi, of Ross. At the inquest held yesterday before R. C. Reid, Esq., J.P., the jury after a Few minutes' consideration, brought in the folldwihg verdiot.—" That the deceased Bernard Heslin, cume by his death by a pistol shot, but whether the same was accidental or otherwise, there is no evidence to show."