A FATAL ACT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2812, 1 February 1888, Page 2

A FATAL ACT.

Sad Death of Mr George Young. Considerable astonishment, great sorrow, and much sympathy for the widow and six children who are left to mourn their loss, were felt in Masterton last night when the news quickly went round that Mr George Young, familiarly known as "Squatter Young,"clerk in the Sheep and Babbit department, had shot himself in the yard at the baek of his office, and that the act had terminated fatally. The facts gathered on the scene a few minutes after the discovery of the deed are much as follows : Shortly after four o'clock Mr R, Wilsone, clerk to the Masterton Road Board, whose office adjoins the two rooms of the Sheep department, and has with them a common entrance, passed through this entrance passage and met Mr "Young there. The latter made some trivial remark such as "Good afternoon," and went into liis room, which is the outer of the two apartments, the room of Mr Edward Orbell, the Inspector of sheep, being the inner One, Th's seems to have been the lust time Mr Young was seen alive by anyone. After passing him Mr Wilsone went into his own office, and had a conversation with Mr Orbell and Mr Charles A. Pinkerton, who were sitting there, "While they were talking, and at about a quarter to five o'clock Mr Wilsone heard a shot fired, but at the time took no notice of it, not even mentioning the occurrence to the others, who did not hear as it sounded muffled aud distant, and might have been someone firing at a cat, or merely practising shooting at a tin, or something of the kind, Shortly after, at about ten minutes to five o'clock, Mr Orbell left, and went down to the Masterton Club. He went straight from Mr Wilsone's room to the outside, not troubling to enter Mr Young's room or his own office, as he thought books wpuld be locked up as usual by that gentleman Mr Wilsone went on with his work until, at twenty minutes past five, Mr Pinkerton rushed into his office, saying that a man had shot himself in the backyard. Mr Pinkerton, it seems, lmd mean: while had ocoasion to go out into the yard, and noticed a man lyingon his left side, his face partly downwards, and about four paces from the wall. At first he thought it was merely some drunken fellow, but a second glance showed a revolver lying beside the body, and also appearances of blood. He accordingly, without ascertaining who it was, went in for Mr Wilsone, When the two gentlemen returned, they recognised Mr Young in the person before them, and they also at once saw that ho was dying, and was unconscious. A message was quickly sent across to Mr Mason, the chemist,

and Dr, Hosking, who happened to be there, was on the spot within two minutes of the body being found, but bis services were of no avail, for after discovery, Young only gave one or two gasps and expired just as the Doctor arrived, Dr. Hosking at once recognised that the unfortunate man was dead, and saw that the cause was a wound in the mouth,', to which evidently the muzzle of the'revolrer had been put when fired. The revolver which was picked up beside the body was a "British Bulldog" fivechambered one, and was apparently now. One chamber had been discharged ; the other four had cartridges in them. Dr Hosking immediately took-steps which should ensure the sad news being broken to Mrs Young as considerately as possible, and proceeded personally to find her. By a strange chance it happened that Mrs Young just then passed along the street opposite the entrance to the yard, and seeing a crowd asked what was the matter. The fact of the occurrence was then communicated in a manner so as to be as slight a shock as possible and sho was taken away froni the scene by Dr Hosking. It was suggested by a member of the Wairarapa Daily staff that the deceased might have left a letter. Mr Wilsone thereupon went into Mr Young's room and found oa a chair, just within door the following letter, and upon it the sum of 23s 7d in gold, silver, and copper "MrWilsoneand MrOrbell:—lhave been preparing for death to day. I die in the baok yard. Send a horseman at once for my executors, .Richard Alexander Wilson of Riverbend near Bridge Creek, and my brother J. E, Young of Hood and Walker's station, Glendonald. Bideford, (Let the news be broken gently to them both). Tell them to come down to-night, Give them this parcel, See that the news is broken gently to my wife, and that my children are kept at home. 1 am tired of life. Good-bye to you both, farewell to all Masterton friends. (Signed) George Young. Masterton, Sist January, iooiV

The words "Give this money, 23s 7d, to my wife," were also written along the margin of the letter, which was on foolscap paper, and by the freshness of the ink had the appearance of having not been long written. Two other noticeable features were that the letter was dated 1887 instead of 1888, and that the sentence " Let the news bo broken gently to thera both," shown abovo in brackets, was between the lines, thus seeming to indicate that it lmd been added after the letter was written as an after-thought. The parcel alluded to in the letter was found on Mr Young's office table, he having apparently omitted to place it on the chair with the document and money. It should be mentioned also that Mr Young's ordinary coat and his waistcoat, containing his watch, etc., were found hanging up in the room, he having put on a very old coat and being without a waistcoat when the act was committed.

With regard to the deceased's manner previous to the occurrence, it is said that lie had been unusually quiet all day, As a rule, he generally chatted with Mr Orbell on current topics, and would go in perhaps half a dozen times at intervals to have a word with Mr Wilsone, but yesterday lie refrained from both of these usual customs, and on the occasion of Mr Wilsone meeting him in the doorway, he looked frightened and disturbed. Mr Wilsone had often heard him at previous times make the remark that life was not worth living, but he gave no indication whatever to those with him of any intention to end his life.

It was noticed at his home that he yesterday hurried through dinner, and Mrs Young, it is said, remarked upon it, begging him to take longer for the meal, whereupon Mr Young alluded to his monetary position, saying that if things went on as they were going, he would have to go through the Bankruptcy Court, and he could not face that,

During yesterday afternoon, the deceased was noticed to be going round endeavoring to raise some money, and in several instances he sold postage stamps, obtaining cash for thorn, This, doubtless, will account for the money found in the chair. It has been ascertained that Mr Young's life was insured for 1500 in the Government Insurance Office, and for £2OO in some other Company. In at least the first instance, all premiums were paid up to date, and the policy had been in existence some time. It is also thought that the £2OO policy is properly current. It is stated that the deceased was originally insured for £3OOO as well, but that he some time ago allowed this larger insurance to lapse,

No reason can be assigned for the unfortunate step taken by Mr Young, beyond the general impression which was conveyed by his manner, and by the facts, that his finanoial difficulties weighing upon his mind impelled him to commit the rash act, There were no circumstances connected with his official duties which were calculated to disturb him.

Mr Young was exceedingly popular, and was as kind in publio life, as he was affectionate in the home circle. It may even be said that his only fault was that ho was too good naturecl, and that perhaps but for this he would bo with us now. Very great commissaration is therefore felt at his sad end, and the news has cast quite a gloom over the town in which the deceased by his trauk, pleasant, hearty, and kind disposition made sa many friends, Soon after its discovery, the body was taken charge of by Constable Cooper on behalf of the police, and was conveyed to the Club Hotel, where an inquest is to beheld at three'o'clock this afternoon, before Mr S, von Sturmer R. M., the Coroner,

From later inquiry this morning we learn that Mr Young purchased the revolver from Mr Bradford, gunsmith. It seems that he had been into Bradford's shop several times off and on during the past week. Originally—five or six days ago—he inquired for a single-barreled pistol, saying that he was going out with his brother-in-law next Saturday to shoot pigs, E[e asked if a pistol would ki]l |)i|s, ajd'if (t

would also, for instance, frighten away. He ultimately made up liis mind to buy a revolver in preference to the pistol, with the result that yesterday afternoon about four o'clock he called again upon Mr Bradford adfc, acquired the article in question, leaving a deposit of £1 upon it and promising to pay the remaining ten shillings of the price agreed upon in a few days. ; Mr Young also borrowed six cartridges ; and asked for the rest of the box to be'' 1 , put aside so that he could purchase it when paying for the revolver. We also Mr E. H. I Waddington, of Perry street, was at the rear of Mr Young's office at ien ! minutes past five o'clock last night. | He keeps his horse in an adjoining j paddock and at the time mentioned ) lead it for saddling up purposes through a gateway in the fence into the yard where the body was afterwards found. He passed within six paces of the fatal spot and although the view is partly obstructed, the body could have been j easily seen had it been there. Of course j it is possible that Mr Waddington, ia v attending to his horse, never cast his -'M eyes in the direction indicated. This,-® '. and the fyct of Messrs Orbell and j Pinkerton not hearing the shot fired, i are the only reasons to think that the , act took place any later than the time v Mr Wilson e says he thought he the report, '"••• '• y