THE INQUEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 278, 24 November 1898, Page 6

THE INQUEST.

An inquest on the body was held, when the following evidence was taken:—

Mrs Stokes was called, but not sworn. She said that while passing over the bridge on. Saturday night with her daughter she heard a crash in the trees as if some one had fallen over the bridge, and groans. Frcdk- W. Smith, produce merchant, in Commerce street, deposed that he lived off Seccombe's road, Mount Eden. Witness identified the body of deceased, who was his first cousin. Deceased . was sixteen last month, and was born in London, lie was a pupil at King's College, Remuera, and had been in the colony two months. He lived at witness' father's house. His father was dead, but his mother was living, also three sisters, in London. He also had a brother in China, a midshipman in the navy, serving with the China squadron. They were a healthy family so far as witness knew. Deceased had no illness since being in Auckland, or before. He last saw him alive at 6.20 on Saturday evening, when he had tea with the family. He noticed nothing- peculiar about him; he was a smart lad rather. He was melancholy inclined; he seemed to brood occasionally. The deceased had plenty of money about a year ago in London, and little here. That was probably the cause of him brooding. It was witness' belief that his cousin committed suicide. Deceased did not take much tea on Saturday. His studies consisted of an English commercial education, no Latin or Greek. Deceased lived on, good terms with witness' family. Dr. Philson: Can you assign a reason for the suicide? Witness: Yes, I can. He did not like his prospects in life. I have let-, ters he wrote. Dr. Philson: You produce, them. Witness: Yes. The witness then produced two letters in the. handwriting of deceased. They were neatly written on note paper, one addressed to deceased's sister, and the other to his cousin. The letters ran as follows: — Rocklands, Epsom, Auckland, November 11, IS9B. My dear Birdie,— Just a line to say good-bye. I said all I wanted to say in my last letter. — Your ever-loving broken-hearted and miserable Arthur.

Eocklands, Epsom, November 13, 1898. My dear Edith,—-Just a line to wish you good-bye. Break it gently to mother. I couldn't help it.—Your loving brother, Arthur. Th& witness explained that the Christian name of his cousin was not 'Arthur.' He was usually called by that name. Witness then stated deceased wrote a letter to witness' sister one month ago, which was destroyed. "Witness had a memorandum written by his sister giving the gist of the contents. Deceased stated in the letter that he' was not brought up to work, and he could not now do it, and the sooner he ended his life the better. Perhaps it was for the best that he was blase of everything. Witness then said it was his impression that deceased was overstrung. He did not like exertion of any kind unless it was cricket. It was witness' belief deceased committed suicide. Dr.. Philson: Do you think the youth was sane? Witness: That is a matter of opinion. Dr. Philson: It is a most extraordinary STiicide. ;Mr Martin, who gave information of the occurrence to the police, was called, and bore out his statement as to some person in the gully answering questions

witness put to him. This was at 8.45 on Saturday night. Mr Martin said at first he thought the whole thing was a hoax to get him down in the gully to rob him. j. At this stage the foreman of the | jury said he thought Mrs Lawry j should have been called to give evi-. dence. \ Sergt. Walker explained that hfi had '■ seen Mrs Lawry. She saw a man stand- \ ing on the bridge but she could not! identify him. j Constable A. Douthett deposed to' going down the gully on Saturday! night when he saw three or four peo-; pie standing round the body of Scott, who was alive and breathing- heavily. Sevex^al gave witness a hand to carry , him to Dr. Lewis's in Symonds-street. The doctor pronounced life extinct, Deceased was then removed to the morgue in an express. Dr. Lewis deposed to the body being brought to his house on Saturday night. Decensed Avas then dead. Witness found a bruise over the sternum. The cartilages of the ribs were fractured, but no bones were broken. That | day in the post mortem witness had found a dislocation of the left shoulder and a fracture of the spine in the neck. There was no fracture of the skull or limbs. Death was due to fracture of the spine and shock. On his way down deceased could only have touched some small branches. There were no wounds oh the body.

■ Dr. Lewis then said the thought he bridge was safe for adults, but not for children. He did not think it sufficiently well protected for children. Sergeant Walker: It has been sworn that the youth spoke when lying on the ground and Dr. Lewis says his neck was broken.

Dr. Lewis: Well that is quite possible. People havfl lived some time afterwards if the breathing nerves are frnp.

The jury after a few minutes deliberation returned a verdict as follows: —'That deceased committed suicide, felo de se.'