A NAVAL DESERTER'S END.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12379, 19 December 1905, Page 5

A NAVAL DESERTER'S END.

An inquest touching the death of the man stated to be Richard Laweon, who was found lying dead at Richmond on Sunday afternoon, was held ■, at the Morgue yesterday afternoon by Mr H. "W. Bishop, district coroner. ' Mrs Hannah Stone, of Hereford street oast, identified the body as that of Geo. * Sanderson, who had gone under the name of Richard Lawman since he deserted from the Navy. The deceased told her that he was a deserter from the Royal Arthur, and that preyed on his mind very much: She had known the man for about two years, and he had been" working at AulecbrookV during that time. He had often spoken to hor about committing euieide. Ho eaid there was nothing worth living for in this world, and that he was never safe. The deceased used to come to her house several times a week to talk over his troubles. Ho lived in lodgings at 14 Avon street. She last saw the deceased one night the week before last. Ho told her that he had deserted because ho was not treated properly. A juryman asked the witness why she had not given information to the police of the maj/s whereabouts? Tho witnese replied that she did not know that lie Vas liable to arrest. James Nolan, employed at Aukebrook's Factory, said that the deceased (whom he had known for two years) haa lived with his (witness's) mother as a boarder at 14 Avon etreet. He last caw the deceased on Monday morning last at ten minutes past seven. iio was then going to Lyttelton to try to get a boat to England. The. deceased had never balked > about committing suicide. He did not know that the man was a deserter. Albsrt JjcsHo Edgar, blacksmith's labourer, stated that on the-.previous Monday, at about 7.30 p.m., he was passing along Swann'e road, near the river, and caw a man lying down with his head on one *»f his arms. He thought the man was either drunk or asleep, and took no further notice of him. but passed on. On Sunday night, at about a quarter to eight, ho went to the same pl«c*j aid found the man still there, and noticed b'ood on his face. He then informed the police. Constablo Flewellen, of Richmond, stated that he had found tho body the previous evening lying among long grars and willows by the bank of the river near Swarm's road. Near the rigH hand, which was stretched out, he found a five-chambered revolver, loaded in three charabens. two of whicti nad been discharged, and one xr&~ still leaded. Ha examined the body, and found that the mouth had received an injury, caused by a revolver wound, which was self-inflicted. A verdict was returned that the man had committed suicide while of unsound mind. I