SUICIDE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1982, 14 December 1889, Page 2

SUICIDE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Considerable surprise and excitement was caused in Christchurch on Wednesday last, when it became known that Mr Gideon Withers, land clerk in Messrs J. Matson and Co.’s offices, Christchurch, had committed suicide early that morning. A few days ago Mr Withers, who had been with Mr Matson for 30 years, gave the firm notice that ho was about to leave, as he contemplated a trip to England, but nothing peculiar was noticed in his manner. On Tuesday, however, ho did not go home to dinner as usual, and in the evening his wife, who became alarmed, sent her son to look for him. The deceased, however, who seemed in a restless state, declined to go home, and his son understood him to say he would lay down in the office. -A bout 2 o’clock on Wednesday morning young Withers again went for Ins father, but saw nothing of him. About five o’clock he was seen about town, and at eight o’clock was feund dead in Mr Matson’s private office. On the table were two empty laudanum bottles, and in his hand a revolver, from which two shots bad been discharged. From the appearance of the body it would seem that the first shot was fired through the shirt, bnt failed in its object, and that deceased then raised his shirt and exposed his naked body to the pistol, the second shot from which ended his existence, No reason for the act is known, as be was fairly well off, and so far as is known his accounts are all right. Ho left the following letters and memos : “ Tuesday, 2 o’clock a.m.—Since yesterday at 11 o’clock 1 have taken 3oz of laudanum, and no effect, so have recourse to powder and ball. ‘ Bic transit gloria mundi.' ”

“ Tuesday—Left tide sphere at 6.45 H.m. My last hours have been spent in hero all night. The answers to notes and queries in Ashley estate.” A letter to Mr Fisher, a fellow clerK, was also written in blue pencil, and is as under:—“Dear Charlie, —Ask the boss not to send my corpse up to my house. It cm easily b<» laid in the private grain office for the few days it has to remain. Good lock to you and b'essiog on you is my last wish.—Yours very truly, G. Wxthebs.”

At the inquest; the Jury, after a consultation of some fifteen minutes, returned the following verdict—" That the deceased came to bis death by the act of his own hand ; that there is ho evidence before the jury to show cause for the act, or to suggest that ho was of unsound mind.’’ The Coroner said that this was lbe first time within his experience of thirty years that a verdict of such a nature had been given, and he would have to look up hia book. He asked if the joiy meant that deceased was of sound mind when lie met his death. The Foreman ; On the evidence. The Coroner wrole out the verdict, and then read it, as reduced to legal phraseology. In effect it was that the deceased had j wilfully, feloniously, and with malice aforethought killed and murdered himself.