SUICIDE AT CHRISTOHURCH. . + (l)Y TELEGRAPH.—-1'RESS ASSOCIATION.) CiiRiSTCHUKCii, December 12. –

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 429, 18 December 1889, Page 6

SUICIDE AT CHRISTOHURCH. . + (l)Y TELEGRAPH.— -I'RESS ASSOCIATION.) CiiRiSTCHUKCii, December 12. -

Tins morning the news spread quickly through the city that Gideon Withers, the well-known managing clerk to Watson and Co., had committed suicide. it appeals that' about live minutes to eight o'clock this morning, George Gioodridge, storeinan, in the firm's "employ, went into Mr J. T. Matson's private room, and found the corpse of the deceased sitting propped against a sofa, with the vest and shirt unbuttoned, and a sixchambered bulldog revolver in his hand. Two chambers were discharged, and there was a wound over his heart. He must have fired at his naked breast and died immediately. There was little or no external hemorrhage. The body was quite warm when found, and was removed to the * Empire Hotel. In the room were found two loz bottles of laudanum. The revolver, it has since been ascertained, was purchased at Nashelski's ironmongery, on the previous day. - Deceased, it io understood, contemplated leaving for England at an early date. It is said that he had picked a cabin in the Aorangi, which he would have occupied on the blip. Ho had occupied the responsible position of managing and confidential clerk to the linn for upwards of thirty jear?, during which time he had proved himself a faithful and conscientious serxanb. Nothing of which the firm has any knowledge can account in any way for his selfdestruction. The deceased leFt a number of little notes and inemos. lying about the place, one to the head of the firm, containing a reference to private business afl'airs ; another, which was written in blue pencil, on Tuesday, dated 2 o'clock a.m said :— ' Since yesterday at 11 a.m., I have taken 3oz of laudanum and no effect, and so have recourse to powder and ball. "Sic framit tjloiia mundi." ' Another says: * Tiicday. Left this sphere at 6.45 a.m. My last hours have been spent here all night.' Another requested that his body might not be taken to his house, but none giving any reason for the suicide. Deceased leaves a widow, engaged in business in the city, and a grown-up eon. In musical circles the deceased gentleman was exceedingly well-known as a flautist of no mean ability. He was always ready to place his services at the disposal of any musical organisation for the benefit of public or private charities. His age was 52. An inquest was held this evening. No evidence was adduced of anything being wrong with his accounts, or his being in financial trouble. His son stated that he had recently suflered from headachos, and occasionally fits of depression. Thojury found that ho had died by his own hand, and that there was no evidence as to cause, or unsound n^ss of mind. The coroner entered up the \erdict as ono oijel de se.