Coroner's Inquest.

An inquest was held atMr Halligan'a Club Hotel, this morning, touching the death of John James Forsyth. The «n---quiry was held before Mr E. J. Gothard, district coroner, and the following jury: —Messrs Jas. Neagle (foreman), J. W. Macdonald, W. Pawson, C. Steinrod, H. Drinkwater, J. Howes. • Sergt. Cruickshank conducted the enquiry. J. Halligan, licensee of the Club Hotel, deposed that he know the deceased, who had lately stayed at his hotel, and who was low-spirited on account of the loss of his wif« ; Mrs Forsyte died about eight months ago ; deceased went to the South Island for a trip and on his return he had stated that he could neither sleep nor -oat ; saw the deceased go to bed, at about 10.15, on the night of Oct. 8, and did not notice anything unusual about him, A. Spencer, an employee at the Club Hotel, saw the deceased at about 7.80 or 7.45 on the morning of Oct. 9 ; the deceased looked dull and down-hearted ; some time after 8 o'clock, on going outside saw Forsyth lying on his tide ; there was a wound in Forsyte's forehead and a pool of blood on the ground; a revolver lay by his side; Forsyte was unconscious. Edward Martin, an employee at the Club Hotel, deposed to having found the deceased lying in the yard of the hotel ; he was bleeding from a wound in the forehead; deceased had of ten comlained of not being able to sleep. ; Dr T. Macallan deposed to having known deceased for several yean. Last February Forsyte's wife died somewhat suddenly ; this unbalanced For»yth'i mind, and he could not sleep or concentrate his attention on anything. A week after his wife's death advised Forsyte to go to Wellington, and later to go to the South Island for a trip, as he complained that he could not sleep. In consequence of the state of his health, advised Forsyth to sell his farm and go into business. With the atention he received at the Club Hotel Forsyte's health appeared! *° improve ; had examined the wound in Forsyte's forehead and from the indications should say that the revolver had been held j close to the head; found that the bullet had penetrated the skull ; again saw Forsyth at one o'clock, when he spoke to witness, saying, in reply to. an enquiry, that it was in consequence of the want of sleep. . Sergeant A. Oruickshank produced letters in the deceased's handwriting, and found in his coatpocket, which indicated that he contemplated selfdestruction. The letters were dated Sept 27 and October 5, the act being committed on October 9. The jnry returned a verdict that tee deceased came by his death from the effects of a bullet wound, aelf-inflicted, while suffering from temporary insanity.