DESPERATE ATTEMPT AT SELF-DESTRUCTION. A TAILOR SHOOTS HIMSELF.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 67, 13 September 1884, Page 3

DESPERATE ATTEMPT AT SELF-DESTRUCTION. A TAILOR SHOOTS HIMSELF.

(From the Auckland " Star," Sept. 8.) Considerable sensation was caused in Freeman's Bay this morning by the report of an attempt at self-destruction by a tailor named Patrick Moran, who had been lodging with Mr Daniel Quinn, of Willowstreet, a small lane off Napier-street. At 10 a.m. Mrs Quinn, while washing clothes in the yerd, heard a noise in the house, and going in discovered her lodger lying on the floor of his room. She called assistance, and investigation showed that Moran had attempted suicide by shooting himself in the head with a revolver, which was found lying on the bed.

Mrs Quinns Statement. Mrs Mary Quinn states that Patrick Moran, a tailor, had been occupying a room in her house for the last two months ; that is, since he came out of the Hospital, where he had been treated for consumption. About 10 a.m. to-day she was washing clothes in the yard at the back of her house when she heard a noise as though something had fallen in her cottage. Being unable to satisfactorily account for this disturbance, she went into the passage and past the door of the room which Moore occupied. The door was partly open. She looked in, and saw her lodger lying on the floor. She immediately concluded that there was something wrong with the man, and called to a person named Taylor, who was near, and asked him to see what was the matter.

Mr Taylors statement. Mr Taylor states that he heard the cries of Mrs Quinn ; he went into the house and, at her request, proceeded to Moran's bedroom. Here he found its occupant lying on the floor. He was dressed, and lying partly under the bed. Investigation showed that the man was bleeding from a wound on the right side of the forehead, and there was a pool of blood on the pillowslip, which was on the bed. There was also a revolver lying on the pillow. Dr. Baynton was sent for, and speedily arrived, while Constable Bernard very soon appeared on the scene. The former considered Morne to be in a dangerous condition, and advised that he should be removed to the Hospital. Constable Bernard accordingly procured a cab, and had the would-be suicide conveyed to that institution, where he was placed under medical care. Dr. Bend probed the wound, but did not succeed in extracting the bullet, which he said must have taken a downward course. He is of opinion that the man is mad ; although Moran is in a critical condition, hopes are entertained of his recovery. While being conveyed in the cab to the Hospital, Moran smoked complacently and talked of current events, and told the constable that the wound did not give him any inconvenience.

Further Particulars. Constable Bernard states, respecting the sad affair, that he was called at 11.45 a.m., and went in company with Constable Collis to Quin's house in Willow-street. There he saw Patrick Moran lying on a bed. The man was sensible, but the side of his head and neck were smeared with blood which came from a wound in the right forehead. The pillows and the sheet on the bed were also covered with blood. Richard Taylor who was present handed the constable a five-barrelled revolver, which apparently had been recently dischargrd, two chambers being still loaded.

Moran's Statement In reply to questions as to what had caused all the blood, Moran said teat "he was tired of life," that he had gone into Quinns room where he found a loaded revolver. He determined to shoot himself and discharged one of the chamber's shots into his head, but without the anticipated result. Moran, it appears, has been unwell for some months past. He was usually a very temperate man, but had been drinking for the last two or three days. He was formerly in the employ of Mr Samuel Coombes, clothier, of Queenstreet.