THE LATE WILLIAM MAY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVII, Issue 833, 4 July 1890, Page 5

THE LATE WILLIAM MAY.

* Much regret was felt throughout tho community here when it was learned that the body of William May had been found in f,he town belt, Dunodin, on Sunday, under circumstances leaving no doubt he had committed suicide. The deceased, who was a native of England, was 45 years old, and had served 15 years in the 58th llogiment. He came to the Colony from India in 1874, and for some time after his arrival was in the railway service, but subsequently, for seven years, carried on business as a hair-dresser and tobacconist .at Balchitha. Nearly a your ago his wife died, Irnvimr Mr May with six chilch'en, the eldest being then only 10 years of ago and tho youngest an infant. May took his wife's de.-iMi very much to heart, and shortly sold out and went to Dunodin. Since then he has not been able to find much employment, and lritlei'ly became very much depressed. This was noticed by those with whom lie ■c:ime into contnc\ He was mis3ed on Wednesday night, and his body was found on Sunday afternoon in a part of tho town belt covered with bush, near Mr Roberts 1 house. Tho constable who took charge of the body g.ive evidence at the inquest that the body was on its back, fully dress -sd, and a brown felt hat was lying close to it. He examined the ground, and found no marks of any struggle. Me then examined the body. The hands were lying across the upper part of the stomach ; the right hand firmly graspwd the revolver produced ; and the second finger was upon the trigger. When witness found tho revolver four chambers of it were loaded, one chamber had an empty cartridge case in it which had the appearance of having been recently exploded, and ono chamber was empty. The revolver was a new ono. Witness observed a bullet wnnnd halfway between the right ear and the right e^e, and a little above the lino of the ear and eye. Part of the brain was protruding from the wound ; also a little blood. Around the edge of the wound, and extending about an each, was a povder mark, showing that tho mnz/Zie of the weapon A'as held close to the head. There was no other mark or wound on the body. The wound was such as a man •could easily have inflicted upon himself with his right hand. Witness searched the body and found a box containing 45 revolver ball cartridges in one pocket. The box originally held 50. The cartridges "correspond with the weapon. In one/pocket there was a Waterbury watch which was stopped at 17 minutes past 10. There was also L 2 17s l|d in deceased's pockets. Witness searched deaeased's papers at tho Coffee Palace, and found a Government insurance policy on his life for- L2OO which had been paid up. Mr M/Beath also handed him a receipt of a policy for L2OO on the Australian Mutual Insurance Oonpnny. When witness saw deceased's 1 o ly it appeared to have been dead far two or three days.— The jury, v&tliout retiring, returned a verdict to the .effect that the deceased shot himself while temporarily insane. 4; The deceased was a quiet, steady, industrious man, was very obliging, and slb'ok no part in any local disputes that Occasionally will arise in the best regulated communities. As wo have said his sad and premature end is much regretted by all here.