Sensational Suicide in Palmerston.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3656, 29 May 1906, Page 3

Sensational Suicide in Palmerston.

OLD COLONIST SHOOTS HIMSELF IT THE SQUARE. A wave of horror passed over Palmerston yesterday morning when it became known that still ; another had been added to the list of tragedies that have occurred here since the beginning of the year. ' This time it was a sensa- • tional suicide that attracted the interest of the always morbidly inclined crowd. The tragedy occurred in the north-western quarter of the Square, and within a stone’s throw of the Post Office, and the man who took his own life was Mr Joseph Saunders, a very wellknown figure in Palmerston, Wellington, Wanganui, Napier and many other districts. How it came to pass is best told in the words of three eye-witnesses of the whole affair, and as narrated by them to a representative of this paper. The three gentlemen referred to were Messrs Ebenhard, Lomax and Hirschel. Mr. Lomax’s story, corroborated by the others, is to the following effect About 10.25 o’clock in the morning he passed from the Post Office through the north-eastern Square reserve to meet the other two, who were waiting for him at the opposite side. In walking along the path he met and passed Mr Saunders going slowly towards the Post Office, As far as he noticed the latter appeared all right. After meeting his friends Mr Lomax also started to walk through the reserve towards the Post Office, Mr Saunders being then some thirty feet in advance of them. When they reached the intersection of the two paths in the centre of the reserve they were horrified to see Mr Saunders suddenly raise a revolver in his right hand, point it at his own head just above the ear, and fire a shot. Of course they immediately rushed forward but before they reached ► him the unfortunate man had fallen to the ground, at the side of the path, bleeding profusely from the wound. Apparently the shot had taken almost instant effect, passing right through the head. He" was not dead, however, so beyond placing him in a rather

more Comfortable position beneath the shrub under which he had rolled they did hot touch him. Tlr*' sent at once for the police and for mt deal assistance.

Dr was speedily on the scene, fouowed shortly a r4 :er by Dr Putnam. Saunders was still alive though clearly almost ii extremis, so what assistance was

possible was rendered at once. The police then putting in an appearance with a conveyance the unfortunate victim of his own act was removed to the morgue. The fatal bullet entered just above the right ear and made its exit higher up on the opposite side of the head.

The weapon with which the deed was done was a brand new five-chambered revolver, apparently just purchased. Deceased, who was about 62 or 63 years of age, was a contractor by trade and was exceeding wellknoWn throughout the colony, particularly in Wellington, where he and his family resided for many years. Mr Saunders owned vain* able property at Awahuri and elsewhere.

He came to the colony about 40 years ago with very little means. Soon after his arrival in Wellington he was married and from that time, as he often told his friends, he had never gone back. Starting first On small jobs in Wellington and at the Hutt he gradually worked up untill his business had grown to big dimensions. He took contracts for reclaiming land at Wellington and Wanganui, he built the breakwater at < Napier, and in many other localities his ; firm was well known for their j work. Quite recently he secured a big contract in Wellington to pierce a tunnel through to Kilbirnie. Among other contracts the late Mr Saunders carried out were the following : —Construe-1 tion of a section of the GreymouthHokitika railway ; wharf extension, reclamation works, and altering" railway approach in Foxton ; installation of Rotorua drainage system ; construction of Bulls bridge; and strengthening i Fitzherbert bridge. Mr Saunders’ tender was also accepted lately for the construction of the Miramar tram.

Mr E. J. Saunders, who recently completed our Main street bridge culvert contract is a son of deceased.

No cause is assigned for the tragic act, though Mr Saunders is said to have suffered severely from insomina.

Deceased was a well-known figure-in sporting circles for years past. The Shah, (who won many races in the late eighties), and latter on Robin Hood atid Strathnairn, were horses the late Mr J. Saunders raced successfully.

The revolver was purchased at Permain and Gilchrist’s about quarter of an hour before he shot himself. He also got 50 rounds of ammunition, saying he wanted the outfit for his son.- He must have loaded the weapon soon after leaving the shop, for only one chamber was discharged after the tragic act.

An inquest was to have been held this morning.—Manawatu Standard.