NO MOTIVE SHOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 157, 5 July 1935, Page 13

NO MOTIVE SHOWN.

YOUNG MAN'S SUICIDE.

FOUND SHOT IN RAILWAY SHED. ■ (From Our Own Correspondent.) HUNTLY, Thursday. A verdict that deceased met his death I at Hiintly on June 29 by shooting himself through the head with a .303 rifle was returned by the coroner, Mr. F. Harris, at the inquest this afternoon concerning George Young, married, aged 28 years, a cleaner, employed by the New Zealand Railways, in the locomotive branch at the Huntly station, who was found shot through the head, in a hut adjoining the engine-shed, on June 2!). Evidence was given by James Victor Kuuwoithy, a fireman, that he was in the company of the deceased practically all of the day before the fatality, and deceased appeared to be in his usual good health and spirits. He had called on deceased at about 7 that evening to audit some books, deceased being the local secretary of the- Raihvaymen's Association. Mrs. Young had gone out and deceased was at home looking after the child, aged 18 months. About 11 p.m. Mrs. Young arrived homo and witness left about 11.45 p.m. During the time ho was there deceased opened three' bottles of home-brewed beer, which lie made himself, and he and deceased drank them. Neither he nor deceased was under the influence of drink. When he left the house witness was satisfied that the books and accounts were all in order. The association meeting was to be held on June 30. Deceased appeared to be on good terms with his wife. When witness left the house, he said, "I am going to bed now, George," and deceased replied, "It's no use me going to bed, and I am going to work soon." Deceased commenced work at about midnight on his shift. Witness had never at any time heard him mention that he owned a rifle, and had never seen the rifle shown to him by the police. He had seen the note shown to him by the police, and definitely stated that the signature "George"' was that of deceased. James Malono, engine-driver, said he arrived at Huntly from Frankton at 4.25 ajn. On going to the- enginedriveis' room, he saw a man in the corner dead. He had been shot in the head. A ride was by him, and around the trigger of the rifle was a strip of towel. The man's left foot was in the loop. Gladys Olga Young, wife of deceased, eaid she went to bed about midnight, after cutting his lunch. She heard her husband about the house, and it was about 1 a.m. when he finally left home to go to work. He was not sober when he left homo, but not badly under the influence of liquor. He appeared to be quite cheerful. They had been getting along well together, and had not had any quarrels. She knew of nothing that had been worrying him. He was a secretive man, and did not tell her all his business. Deceased had a .303 rifle, which he-kept in a shed at the rear of the,hojise. Dr. jrlfred Barrett Jameson, of Huntly, gave evidence, of examining the body of deceased. In his opinion death had occurred three or four hours previously, and hnd followed almost instaiieously the infliction of the wound to the head, which was self-indicted. Constable P. L. Walton stated that on the table in the drivers' room wae a bottle and a mug, both containing dregs of beer. Written in the back of the attendance book were the words, "Best respects to everyone, George." The coroner said there was no evidence to show why the deceased shot himself, although he certainly had been drinking.