A LOCAL TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1751, 13 November 1917, Page 2

A LOCAL TRAGEDY.

MAN -SHOOTS HIMSELF. Walter George Williamson, single, 34 years of age, a flaxmill employee, committed suicide at his residence, Avenue Road, shortly before 11 o’clock on Saturday night. The police and Dr. Mandl were summoned. Investigation disclosed that the man had shot himself above the left ear. He was unconscious, and after the wound was dressed, was removed to the Palmerston’ district hospital, where an operation was performed by Dr. Putnam, and the bullet removed from the brain, but the dc * ceased succumbed on Sunday morning. An inquest was held at Palmerston before Mr Kendrick, S.M., coroner. Evidence as to identification of deceased was given by his brother, Chas. Williamson. Dr. Putnam stated that at about 2 a.m. on Sunday he was called to the hospital, where he saw deceased, who had a bullet wound in the head behind the left car. Deceased died about 8 a.m. the same day. Witness made a post mortem examination, and found that deceased’s brain had been very much lacerated by the passage of the bullet, which had travelled horizontally through the head and lodged just under the scalp on the opposite side. Death was due to shock brought a-, bout by gross injury to the brain. Sofia Wheeler, domestic, residing at Foxton, stated that she had known deceased for about 9 years, and had been living xvith him for the last two years. Deceased returned home on Saturday at about 10.50 p.m., under the influence of liquor. Directly he came in he went out into 1 the back yard, saying “he would do for himself.” As deceased had previously threatened to take his life, witness took no notice of his remark. She heard a shot, and directly after deceased came in. Witness imagined he had fired in the air to frighten her. Deceased went straight into his room and called witness, who kissed him good-night. He seemed much quieter, and she went to her own room. She had just closed the door when she heard another shot, and heard a fall. She rushed into deceased’s room, and found him lying on his side on the floor. Witness was not quite sure where the revolver was, but thought it was lying on the floor. Deceased was left-handed. She knew no reason why deceased should take Lis own life. He was quite. happy during the day, and they had not quarrelled. After witness went into deceased’s room, he called to her to come to him, saying his head was aching. He had no wound wh|Bn he came in from the yard. Witness went to a neighbour for assistance", and the police were informed. Constable O’Donoghue stated that at about 11 p.m. on Saturday, in company with Constable Woods and Dr. Mandl, he visited deceased’s, house at Foxton. On entering the room he found deceased lying on the floor on his left side. There was a pool of blood under his head and a five-chambered revolver lying near hi.s left arm, about two feet away. Deceased was quite unconscious. On examining the revolver, witness found two empty shells and three unused cartridges. Deceased appeared delirious, and called Mrs Wheeler by her Christian name, saying he was in great pain. Witness saw deceased about 3 p.m. on Saturday in the hotel drinking, but he was then quite sober. Deceased was a ilaxmill hand, and witness knew of no reason why he should commit suicide.

The Coroner found that death' was caused by a shot from a revolver fired by deceased whilst under the influence of liquor.