DEATH OF MR W. MATRAVERS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8845, 22 June 1907, Page 2

DEATH OF MR W. MATRAVERS.

The Inquest. An inquiry into the cause of the death of W. Matravers was held by Captain Mowlem yesterday afternoon. Tho jury consisted of Messrs J. Burne (foreman), J. W. Bramwcil, F. H. Eeterkin, J. McLandress, J. C. Haloombe, and J. M. T, Jacobsen. Sergt. Bowden examined the witnesses.

Dr Willis said, when called by the police at about ten minutes to eight yesterday morning, he saw the body, which he understood had been removed from the porch into the Courthouse, and itwastheu sitting on a chair. Death had recently taken place from a gunshot wound in the eye, and the body was still warm. The eye, having been displaced by the shot, was lying on the right cheek, and blood was oozing from the eye, mouth, and both ears. The revolver and bullet (produced) were capable of causing the wound described. R. Murray, barman of Empire Hotel, Eeilding, said he saw deceased sitting in the commercial room reading the paper at about a quarter past seyen. He saw him last at about twenty minutes to eight apparently in his usual health. W. J. 'Williams, licenseo of the Empire Hotel, said that deceased arrived at his place from the 8 o’clock train the previous night, and complained that he had been unable to get a: cab to take him home, and said he was very tired. Deceased had' a meal and retired to bed at about a quarter to 11. Deceased had slept at his house about eight times during the last throe weeks. The next morning die sawdeceased, who got some toast and coffee, with about three spoonsful of whisky in the coffee, for breakfast, and then remarked that he felt better. He and deceased were always on good terms. Just before leaving the house deceased asked for the return of a cheque for 25s he had given the night before, and tendered a£o note. He (witness) returned the cheque which deceased tore up, and shortly afterwards the latter left the hotel, giving no indication whatever of being in a state of mind different to that habitual to him. Ho heard a shot, but had no suspicion of what had taken place. A. P. Pritchard described how he had noticed deceased sitting in a chair at the porch of the Courthouse while cycling past and his attention had been attracted by seeing blood on the face of deceased. He and Mr Askew afterwards informed the police. Constable Henderson, who was one of the first to see the body, said the revolver produced was in the right hand of deceased, the thumb on the trigger. It was a six chambered revolver and four chambers wore still loaded. He had previously seen-the revolver in possession of deceased. There was nothing in the pockets of deceased that had any bearing on the occurrence. He last saw deceased at 9.15 the previous night. Ho noticed nothing peculiar in his conduct, nor during the morning before deceased went to Wanganui. The Coroner stated that ho had seen the will of deceased, drawn up the previous day, and it contained nothing of interest in connection with the inquiry. Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M., said ho knew deceased had worried a good deal over his work and that his memory had failed him much recently, so much so that if the deceased had asked leave to retire the Department would have allowed him to do so on compensation of .£6OO or .£7OO or more. He had frequently examined the documents of the deceased during the past few months and always found them correct. As far as he kuew there were no defalcations at all and he had no reason to suspect any. During the past three months a clerk had been coming to Foilding Court about three times a month to assist deceased, and this was his day for coming. The deceased was not a man to spoak of his troubles, and it appeared that he had just brooded over them until his mind had become unhinged. Sergt, Bowden said there was no document or writing of any kind in the Court to his knowledge that would throw any light on the occurrence. Mr Halcombe, a juryman, said ho knew for a fact that the loss of memory of the deceased troubled him much and really doubled his work.

The jury gave a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane.