Inquest.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8100, 29 May 1906, Page 5

Inquest.

The Late J os. Sannders. The; enquiry into the circumstances surrounding tlie death of the late Joseph Saunders was held to-day before the Coroner and the following jury:— D.Sinclair (foreman), H. Walter, H. W. Haybittle, S. T. Hunt, E. Penman, W. J. Rodgers, and A. Manson. Mr Innes was present on behalf of relatives of the deceased. , Dr. Putnam was the first witness called. He said lie was sommoned to deceased at 10.30 a.m. yesterday. Deceased was then in the reserve" almost opposite the Post Office. On examination witness found, two wounds in the head, one on each side, caused by a gunshot. Deceased was alive at that time, but died almost immediately. The cause of death was a bullet which must have passed through the base of the brain. Nothing could be done to prolong life, death taking place almost as soon as the head was bandaged. Life would not last longer than two minutes after the wound. By Mr Innes :—lt was impossible to say that insomnia would be the direct cause of the deed, but unsoundness of mind was frequently caused by insomnia, and also unsoundness of mind frequently followed insomnia. Henry P. Lomax stated that he had passed deceased going through 'the reserve. (Subsequently when witness and two others were about a quarter of the way through the reserve on the way back to the post office deceased came through the entrance near the post Qffice. He looked towards them and immediately pulled a revolver from his pocket, placed the muzzle close to his ear and fired. He swung round and fell over on his face. They were too far irom deceased to prevent the act. Witness placed deceased on his side and sent for medical aid and the police. Drs Rockstrow and Putnam were in attendance almost immediately. Deceased dropped the reyolver when he Ml. H. C. Collinson, junr., salesman at Permam and Gilchrist s, ironmongers, said the revolver produced was purchased by deceased from witness at a few minutes past ten yesterday moraing. He also got 50 rounds of ammunition. They were parcelled up. Deceased mentioned the goods were for his son. He told witness he was m a hurry and asked him to be as quick as he could in getting cartridges to fit the revolver. He spoke about his contract in Wellington and appeared to be quite his usual self. Jno. Hurley, licensee of the Railway Hotel, said deceased stayed there. He thought he arrived at' the hotel last Friday from Wellington anci remained till yesterday. He cashed a£s cheque about 9 o'clock yesterday morning. All the time deceased was m the hotel he behaved in his ordinary manner. Witness did not know if he slept well but deceased was always up very early. —about 6 a.m. He was not drinking at all. By Mr Innes—Deceased appeared to have been in failing health- during the past twelve months. Constable Mcßae gave formal evidence as to being summoned to the Square yesterday morning and the subsequent removal of deceased to the morgue. Chas. Saunders, son of the deceased, residing at Awahuri, said he saw his father last on Saturday afternoon. He instructed witness to purchase some horses for him. Deceased had arrived from Wellington the same day. He was in his usual frame of mind. Witness had an appointment with him at ten o'clock yesterday morning which he did not keep, not arriving in from the farm in time. Deceased was not in financial difficulties, but he told witness on Saturday that he had slept very little for fully three years. He had been getting sleeping draughts for the past two years. Deceased stayed with witness last Easter and on previous occasions, and witness knew that he slept very little then. His state of health was bad, especially during the past six months. Ed. Jas. Saunders, son of deceased, gave evidence of identification of the body. The jury returned a verdict of suicide while suffering from temporary depression caused by insomnia.