INQUEST.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8480, 11 May 1893, Page 6

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the White Swan Hotel yesterday afternoon on the body of Chas. Cooke, who was found dead in the South Park on Tuesday. The euquiry was before Mr Beetham, Coroner, and a jury of which Mr W. H. Tribe was chosen foreman, and Sergeaut Barlow appeared ou behalf of the police. The body having been viewed by the jury! - William Cooke, father of the deceased, stated that his eon was at home on Saturday and Sttnday last, and was then sufferiug from what he eaid was a cold. Witness saw him last a little before 8 a.m. on Monday, when he left to go to work at the Metropolitan Hotel. Deceased had been addicted to drink.

Otto Schuieder, proprietor of the Metropolitan, gave evicleuce of the deceased haviug been employed as porter in his hotel, and that on Monday he left, receiviug his wages and saying his illness would take him some four weeks to get over. Frederick Geo. Jackson, employed at Ashby, Berg and Co., deposed to selling the deceased the revolver produced with aome cartridges to fit. John G. Bruu, an Insurance agent, deposed to finding the body in the Park, and reporting the matter to the police between 4 and 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Sergeant Bariow gave evidence of taking possession of the body of deceased, who was lying on his back. He was fully dressed, excepting his cap. The revolver produced was in his right baud, with the forefinger on the trigger. There were marks of blood about the mouth, and a pool of blood under the back of the head, and in the mouth was a mark as of a bullet having been fired into the head. Two of the chambers in the revolver were empty. A bottle of whiskey untouched was found wrapped up in paper by his side; a flask of brandy untouched, several cartridges, and a letter to his mother in his pockets. In the presence of Mr Cooke, Mrs Cooke told witness that her eon had explained the nature of the illness from which he was

suffering. The Coroner said there was clearly no doubt that the unfortunate young man had taken his own life, and it remained for the jury to say whether in their opinion deceased wa3 or was not in sound mind when be committed the act. The disease which deceased had contracted was of a nature to unhinge the mind of some men. Thejuiy, after consultation, returned a verdict " That deceased committed suicide while temporarily insane."