SUICIDE OF A CORONER. New Plymouth, April 8.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 97, 11 April 1885, Page 3

SUICIDE OF A CORONER. New Plymouth, April 8.

Cai»taix Davidson, J.P. and Coroner of this district, was found doad yesterday afternoon with a bullet through his head and a pistol by his sido. The decoased had beon at business all day till 3 p.m., when he returned home after having procured a revolver from a shop in town. About ten minutes after his arrival, he went into the shrubbery adjoining his residence and shot I himself through the brain, death being instantaneous. At the inquest held in the evening, John Bleasdale stated he was in the same grounds with deceased a few minutes prior to the occurrence, but left, and afterwards heard the report of a pistol. He looked in the direction where he had seen the deceased sitting, and saw him lying on the ground. He went to him, and found h*m lying on his side quite dead. Dr. Leatham stated that the bullet had passed through the upper part of the mouth, penetrating the brain and skull. Tho doccasod, it is understood, was embarrassed in money matters, and had usod a tlirib'at tho day previous that he would shoot himself. A verdict was returned to tho effect, that doceasod shot himsolf whilst in a fit of tomporary insanity. Financial difficulties aro said to have led up to the fatal deed.