THE LATE MR VOYSEY.

Shannon News, 16 September 1924, Page 3

THE LATE MR VOYSEY.

-EVIDENCE) A|T THE INQUEST.

On Friday morning an inquest was held by Mr Frazer, district coroner, concerning the death of William Voysey, late headmaster of the Shannon School, who was found dead in the kitchen of his residence on Thursday morning.

Mrs W. Mouldey, sister of the deceased, stated she last saw. him alive at Palmerston North on Tuesday, Sept. 2nd., when his health was poorly and he complained of a pain at the back of his shoulder. On previous occasions when she had seen him he had never complained about his health. He gave- no indication of taking his life. He had discussed his plans for the future, also about coming to stay with witness 'on his retirement. He had stayed at witness’s home, on the Monday night. When he left to catch the train on Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, h was in*his usual state of health. That was the last time witness saw him alive.

Thomas Patrick Moynihan, licensee of the Club Hotel, stated lie last saw deceased at 7.45/ p.m. on Wednesday at the hotel. He then appeared perfectly alright. Deceased was a steady man and not addicted to drink. He had taken his meals at the hotel off and on for about fifteen years. There was nothing in his manner then to indicate that be intended taking his life, but he had been' in a. poor state of health for the past week. Witness could throw no light on why he should take his life.

Thomas Herbert Ingley, dairy farmer, said he knew deceased Avho had borrowed the gun from him. On Monday last when returning from, the sale witness met deceased outside Mr Gunning’s store and stopped to talk to him when deceased asked witness-to get a pick and shovel from the former’s place which he had, bought from him. Hie then walked up to this place with him. When leaving he asked to borrow the gun to shoot a, cat which was giving him trouble as he could not leave his windows open. He offered, to bring the gun down to him. He said he would come along and get the gun and they then proceeded to witness’s place. Deceased came inside the house and they had a talk. When he was leaving witness handed him the gun and two cartridges. He promised to -return the gun some evening. During' their talk at the house they discussed farming and things in general. Witness had -known deceased for some years. There was nothing in his manner or conversation to indicate that he intended to take his life, and be appeared quite in his usual state of mind.

To Constable -McGregor: Witness identified the gun. as the one he lent deceased. It was a douhle barrel fowling piece. He had bought it from deceased in June last.

Alexander Hogg Morgan, first assist* ant school teacher at Shannon School, stated that oh Thursday morning at about 9.50 a.m. one of the lady assistants informed him that Mr Voysey had not arrived in his room.at the school. ~ She expressed anxiety owing to information from some of the children that his bicycle had) not been seen at the hotel as usual and also that pupils who ‘had knocked at his house door had received no response. As Mr Voysey -had during the last -two days informed witness he had not been ieeling well, he also felt anxious. He then proceeded to Mr V-oysey’s house and knocked loudly at the front door

and receiving nq response he then crossed over to the Albdqn Hotel,, where he rang up the Club Hotel and enquirf ed if deceased had 'been to breakfast that?- morning and was informed he had not. He then returned to' the house and knocked again and getting no response looked through the back window and could see part of a body (a leg and hand) on the floor. He then rang up the police and awaited their arrival. With Constables McGrefor and Shannon he entered the house through the front window and they found Mr Voysey lying dead on the floor in the kitchen. Since resuming school after the holidays, especially on 'Tuesday, Mr Voysey appeared considerably upset, more worried than usual, disjointed in his speech and somewhat peculiar in his manner. His health and coming retirement

seemed to worry him a good deal. There was nothing in his manner that led witness to believe he contemplated suicide.

Thos.. I. McGregor, police constable in charge at Shannon, stated that in consequence of a telephone message from Mr Morgan, in company with Constable Shannon, he proceeded to the residence of Mr Voysey. On arrival there at 10.15 a.m. be found the house locked up. Hie entered the house through the front window which was unfastened, accompanied by Constable Shannon, and Mr Morgan. On going into the. kitchen he found the. deceased lying .on bis back on the floor near the door. There was a double-barrel breech-loading shotgun alongside of him:, also a piece of thin board about three feet long. The muzzle of the gun was lying towards his chest, a piece of string being tied to the trigger of the gun. There was an empty cartridge in the right barrel and another full one on the table nearby. : He had a gunshot wound on the loft breast in the region of the heart with gunpowder marks around the edge of ft. Deceased was quite dead. An envelope containing the school keys was found in. .the. kitchen and on the table in the front room was a note (produced) written to his sistei). Mrs W. Mouldey, in which he indicated his intention of taking his life. The body , was examined by Dr. Macdonald at about 10.30 a.m. and in his 'opinion death had. taken place fouir or five hours previously. Everything pointed to the deceased having committed suicide. The piece of board lying alongside the gun had evidently been used to discharge the gun. Witness said lie knew Mr Voysey and on several occasions of late he had discussed with coming retirement and appeared uriensv about his future. He seemed unable to make up his mind as to his future movements. In referring ■ to his health deceased had stated that

no one had any idea what he had suffered. Constable Thos. Shannon corroborated the previous witness’s evidence. THE FINDING. The verdict of the Coroner Was that the deceased, William Voysey, committed suicide while .under heavy mental strain from ill-health.