CORONIAL INQUIRY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2259, 5 April 1921, Page 3

CORONIAL INQUIRY

An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the cllath of Joshua Cull, of Foxton, aa’us held at the Court House yesterday, before Mr A. Fraser, Cox-oner.

Edith Cull, daughter of deceased, testified that she had last seen her father alive on Monday morning, at about'B.3o, Avhen he appeared to be quite normal. He avrs then chopping firewood. On returning home about three-quarters of an hour later she found deceased lying in a pool of blood in the porch. She called to him, but he did not answer. She then Avent to a neighbour’s, Mr Spring’s, and told him that her father had shot himself. She Avas the only one living at home with her father at the time. He had been unAvell for the last two months, and had complained of trouble with his kidneys, and headaches. He had not been Avell during the night preceding.

George Baden Cull, son of deceased, stated that he last saw his father alive on Sunday, 27th March, at his home. For the last two months deceased had been suffering from kidney trouble, attacks to which he was subject. He had previously been medically treated. The recent attack avok the first he had had since lie had been in Foxton. Deceased complained of his eyes, saying that he thought he Avas losing his sight. He was very despondent. Deceased had never threatened to take his life, but had once said that his life AA-as not Avorth living. Deceased had seven children. He was 63 years of age. Charles Spring started that he knew deceased Avell. He last spoke to him a few days ago, Avhen lie had asked deceased hoAv he avrs. Deceased had replied that he was all light, and walked away, not wishing further conversation. For the last tAvo months lie had seemed very despondent. On the morning of the 2nd April witness was Avorking in his garden not far from deceased’s house, when deceased’s daughter called out to him that her father had shot himself. He proceeded to the house, but did not go in. He Avaited uptil the police arrived, and accompanied Constable Oavcii. He saAv Cull lying in (he porch in a pool of blood, with bis head resting in the kitchen door step, and a gun lying by his side. Deceased was quite dead. Constable Owen stated that about !) o’clock on Monday morning, in response to a telephone call, Dr. Mandl and he visited (he residence of deceased. The porch door at tlie roar of the house was open, and immcdialcly inside he found deceased lying on the lloor on bis right side, hi.- head resting against the inside doorstep and Avail. The body was King in a large pool of blood, Avitli the top of hi- head blown away. A rifle was lying beside Iho body, and on examining the rifle lie found an exploded shell in the breach. There was a fresh bullet hole in the roof. Judging by (he position of the body, rifle, and the hole in the roof, it appeared to witness that before the l'ille Avas tired deceased had stood up and leaned over the rifle with the right side of his head tmvards the muzzle, and then pulled the trigger Avitli one hand. The rifle was small enough to permit of this. The right side of the skull was completely bloAvn away. The bullet, after passing through the skull, had gone up through the roof. He removed the body to the morgue. He had not previously known deceased.

The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased had died at his residence on the 2nd April, 1021, by a rille shot self-inilicted.