SUICIDE OF CAPTAIN J. C. JOHNSTONE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1569, 25 July 1882, Page 2

SUICIDE OF CAPTAIN J. C. JOHNSTONE.

On Saturday intelligence reached us of the shocking suicide, on Thursday, of Captain J. 0. Johnstone, of Waitetuna, near Raglan. Owing to the inefficient postal service and the absence of a telegrapU line between Waikato and Raglan, we have not been able to get any further particulars direct, but the police having forwarded information to Auckland, our correspondent at that place has been placed in possession of the following facts, which were telegraphed to us at a late hour last night :— Captain Johnstone had been in very low spirits since the death of a favorite daughter, which happened about two months ago. He had been accustomed to reside in a small cottage some distance from the main residence, and on the evening of Wednesday last he proceeded there as usual. Before leaving the house he kissed all the children, with the except his favorite son, for whom he left a message, asking him to follow him up to the cottage. According to a statement which deceased wrote some time before his death, it would appear that he had intended to take his life on that evening, but was prevented by the late arrival of his son, who stayed in the cottage all night. Early next morning the lad went away, at the request of his father, for the purpose of getting firewood. After proceeding a short distance he heard the report of a guv, and, retracing his steps, found his father lying on the floor of the cottage with a shot-gun beside him. It was evident that Captain Johnstone had taken his own life by shooting himself through the heart, and death had apparently been instantaneous, there being no sign of life. A number of letters written by deceased prior to his death have been discovered. Amongst the documents was a statement regarding the reason for the commission of the rash act. For some years past Captain Johnstone had not been on good terms with a Justice of the Peace in the district who also acts as coroner, and in his statement deceased says that no doubt that gentlemen will be glad to have an opportunity of sitting on his body. The following obituary notice was written by deceased prior to his death, and forwarded under cover to the Star:— -"Death.— On the 20th of July, suddenly, at Te Hauroto, Capt. John Campbell Johnstone, formerly Commandant 2nd Regiment Punjaub Infantry. He was the second officer in the Royal army, appointed to command of a regiment while yet a lieutenant. He left instructions that his body might, if possible, be burned, and that his family would not fo into mourning. Te Hauroto, 20th uly, 1882. Publisher Mooting Stay Auckland. Sir:— Will you do me the favour of giving insertion to the above obituary notice and oblige, obediently yours, J. C. Johnstone." Deceased leaves a family of eight or nine sons and one daughter. His wife is a daughter of Major Speedy of Abyssinian fame. The deceased owned 2000 acres of laud at Raglan, and was known for years as rather an eccentric person, having sustained a sunstroke in India many years ago. On the day before his death he received a summons to appear aa defendant in an assault case, which was to have been heard to-day, the prosecutor being Mr Charles Sutton.