A TRAGIC AFFAIR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3879, 6 August 1891, Page 2

A TRAGIC AFFAIR.

Suicide of Priestman. Tio Fall of the CurtainQuite a sensation was caused in Masterton yesterday afternoon wbeD it was made known that the man Priestman, whose mysterious disappearance from the Occidental Hotel we reported in our columns on Tuesday last, had been discovered by a search party about a mile from the town, shot through the head. It appears that about ten o'clock on Monday morning Henry Priestman, who had been staying at the Occidental Hotel for about three weeks, came down from his room with a MartiniHenri rifle and intimated his intention of going out for half an hour's shooting. On being asked what he intended shooting he replied, "Oh, nothing much, I'll only practice on some logs." As he had previously been out on a similar expedition, very little notice was taken of 'his remarks, and he left for Te Ore Ore as above stated. On Monday night, however, he did not return, and as nothing appeared to have been seen or heard of him, fears were entertained that an accident must have befallen him. His disappearance was reported to the police on Tuesday, and enquiries wen made as to his whereabouts. No clue t3 the mystery could, however, be obtained, and yesterday afternoon a search party, consisting of Uonptables May and Malcolm and Messrs. W. H. Jackson and M. O'Meara was organised. The party divided, Constable Malcolm and Mr. Jackson going in one direction and Constable May and Mr. O'Meara in another. The latter party had proceeded about half a mile across Mrs Ewington's paddocks in the direction of the Huamauunga river, when they discovered the body of the unfortunate fellow, lying face downwards, on the top of a bank, quite dead. In his left hand was the weapon with which the faoal act had been committed. From all appearances the man had sat down on the top of the bank, and deliberately shot himself through the head. On the body being examined, a bullet wound was discovered on the right side of the head, just above the temple and another on the top of the cranium, indicating that the bullet had passed right through the brain. Death must therefore have been instantaneous. About forty feet from the body was found the cap ot the deceased, through which the bullet had evidently passed. In one of bis pockets was found three cartridges, and in others photographs, letters, script, etc. A pocket book was also found, in which were written the words, " The play is ended, the curtain must fall; I have enjoyed myself," together with the addresses of his sister and solicitors. The aeceased was removed to the Occidental Hotel, to await an inquest. The deceased, who is thirty-one years of age, has no friends in this colony, having arrived at Dunedin from London in February laßt. From tickets and letters in his possession it would appear that be had moved in high social circles at Home.. No cause can be assigned for the committal of the rash act, although he admitted having lost several thousand

jflnnda in speculations during th past few On Buuil.iy -night he appeared to be somewhat depressed in spirits, and expressed himself as disappointed at not having received a remittance from Home by the last mail. He also signified his intention of leaving at an early date for Sydney, where he held a considerable amount of mining script. The deceased was of temperate habits, and during his short stay in Masterton had become exceedingly popular.

THE INQUEST. An inquest into the circumstances attending the death of Henry Whalley Priestnian was held, this morning before Coroner Roberts and a jury of six, of whom Mr S. K. Martin was chosen foreman. Henry Phillips, sworn, deposed: I am licensee of the Occidental Hotel. I have known the deceased from the 13th July. He bad been boarding at my hotel from t'lat time till Monday morning, when he left and did not return. He told the girl before leaving that he would not be Ion,;. I do not think the man had money while he was at my place. He complained of feeling ill once, and laid up for a couple of days. He had been expecting letters from home, and was disappointed on one or two occasions. 1 did not see deceased on the morning he left the hotel, i saw him on the previous evening, but there was nothing strange in his manner. To the jury : I cannot say whether or not the deceased had money. Morgan O'Meara deposed to having met the deceased on Monday morning near the hospital. He was then carrying a gun. There was nothing svrange in his appearance. He got through the wire fence. Witness was one of the search party who were lookin ; , for the man, and was the first to see the remains. He called for Constables May and Malcolm and Mr Jackson, who came up at once. He could see the man was dead. From the position of tbe gun he should say that the deed had been wilfully committed.

Constable May deposed to the position of the deceased when found. The rifle was lying parallel to the body, with the muzzle close to the head, He examined the body and found a bullet wound in the head. He saw no other marks of violence on the body. Amongst the effects of the deceased was a pocket book, in which were written the words, " How much better to drop the curtain and put out the lights when the best of the play is over. The best is over for me. It has been a very good play and I've eujoyed it.—H. W. Pbiestman." On the opposite leaf appeared the address of Miss Priestman, Thornton, Leicester road, Fiuchley, London, and the address of his solicitor. The jury, after a short retirement, returned a verdict that the deceased took bis o«n life whilst in a state of temporary insanity.