A SAD END.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4337, 6 February 1893, Page 3

A SAD END.

Suicide at Palmmton North. [By Telegraph.—Press Association.] Palmerston North, February 3, Frank A. Orbell, commission agent, about 55 years old, shot, himself through the heart just after three o'clock this afternoon with a gun loaded with shot, and expired about five minutes after, Deceased was well-known in Wellington, the Wairarapa, and Otago, and leaves a large family, mostly grown up, Mr Orbell was a brother to Inspector Orbell, late of the Wairarapa, and to Mrs Bidwill, senr., ofPihautea, and was known to many residents in tins district, Ho was for somo time carrying on business as an auctioneer at Jbhnsonvillo, and latterly took up his residence near Palmerston North, leasing a farm at Stoney Creole. The Post's correspondent says : "Mr Orbell shot himself in his office in tho Manawntu Standard premises, Deceased had locked himself in the office, and when the door was broken opon ho was found sitting on a chair with his coat off, bis head hanging on his breast, and a single-barrel-led shot gun resting against him, the trigger tied to tho leg of tho table with siring, An examination proved that the oharga of shot had onterod his body in tbe region of the heart, death being instantaneous, and part of the shot penetrating right through ' the body. Before pulling the trigger, Orbell had taken off hie coat and hat, unbuttoned his vest and bared his breast. In tlu drawer of the office table, powder, caps, and a shot bag were found, 1 Deceased was abont 55 years of age, and had recently leased a farm at titocy. Greek,»few miUo from town,

where his wife and family are now residing. Of late, Orboll has seemed somewhat despondent and failing in health, but there was not anything to lead to tlio supposition that anything was radically wrong. Deceast-d was for somo time engaged in valuing tlio land of the Mannwatu Railway Company, and was also valuer to the Johngonvillo Town Board,