SUICIDE OF MR GURR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2420, 8 October 1886, Page 2

SUICIDE OF MR GURR.

HIS FAREWELL LETTER. (United Press Association.) Auckland, October 6, The inquest on the body of Mr Gurr, late head teacher of the Onehunga School, takes place to-morrow. . The following are additional particularsDr Erson states: I was well acquainted with Jlr Gurr. He came to see uie last night, and was in ut very depressed state. I liotioed this more aa I had been out of town on a holiday. I was the first to tell Mr Gurr about the serious charges against him. He was stunned by the news. I consider that Mr Gurr was a mail deficient in moral courage, and that iB why he suuk under his trouble. Mr Gurr felt that tho fiharge was bo serious after liiß past succesß that when 1 told him ho said, "Do you believe it i" I said, "I do not." Then he said, " May I como and see you." The night before last he called upon me, and I saw a great change, This was caused by tho publication of tho charge in the newspapers, added to the fact that someone sent a slip clipped froniaWellinguta paper, reporting the affair. Last night I told Mr Gurr to writo a strong letter to the Board denying tho accusation, and ho replied, "i am beside myself and do not know what I iun doing, but if yju will assist me I will write." Mr Gurr told me that ho had not slept for several nights. I told him to take a dose of bromide of potassium, flesaidhehadsome in the house, and would take it when he went home. He declared that his mind was ooinpletely unhinged. 1 told him to face the trouble and declare his innocence, as all his 'friends would rally round him. Mr Gurr replied, "What further punishmont could have been moted out to me, even if guilty, than to have had the thing published throughout the colony as a flag-' rant charge, and after building up a reputation like mine to be blastea in this way. I then shook hands with Mr Gurr and he went away, 1 believo hiin to have been entirely innocent. His action was the result of not having tho moral courage to faco the situatiou. His last words to me when leaving, in confirmation of his oftrepeated declaration of complete innocence, were—' 1 Before God lam innocentin thought, word, and deed of any wrong action to any of these children.' 1

Before visiting Dr Erson, deceased went to the office of Mr Wastney, a solicitor, and made his will, which was witnessed by Mr Richard Bright. During a conversation with Mr Bright, the deceased said he would accept any advico given, and leave the place, but pointed out that he would not take his family with him. Deceased was not soon after 10.15. His daughter usually brought his breaktast up to him, and this morning she brought the meal into, deceased's room, but found he was not there. She discovered a letter lying ou the table addressed to the Rev Mr Mul?an, Church of England clergyman at Onehunga. She stated that her father never told his family of the chargea which had <been preferred against him In ,the 'letter addressed to the Rev. Mr Mulijan deceased said—" Look affcor my children, and break the news gently to my family, Look near the little bridge." Mr Gurc retained Mr 0. E. Button last week to defend him. He told a friend when his wife went South that, having got rid of her, ho would fight it out in the Supreme Court. One of the decoased's sons is in business in Parnell, and another is ia the Government Insurance Ollice at Wellington. Mr Gurr wtia transferred to Onelumga from Christchuroh fifteen months ago, and was formerly teacher m lnvercargill, and Inspector of Schools at Christchurch.

Auckland, October?. At the inquest on the body of Mr Gurr, late hoad teacher of the Onehunga School, a verdict of temporary insanity was returned. No new facts were elicited.