TRAGEDY IN AN HOTEL BAR. A MAN SHOOTS HIMSELF.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 147, 19 December 1905, Page 7

TRAGEDY IN AN HOTEL BAR. A MAN SHOOTS HIMSELF.

In a private bar of the' Oriental Hotel, Willis-street, a French polisher named 'George Wallace shot himself with a revolver about 8 o'clock last evening, death being instantaneous. Deceased was about 45 years of age. He cams from Melbourne, and for about eleven years lived jn a room at Hall's Turkish Baths, in Manners-street, and had his meals in one of the city restaurants. For about seven years he had been in the employ of Mr. Henry Fielder, but had not been at work for a week, and had not been leen at his room since Friday night. Two ' people who came in contact ' with him Bay that he was a widely-read, respectable man, but addicted to drink. He went into the private bar of the Oriental Hotel about 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and remained there for the rest of the day. According to a barmaid, he had some drink — she could not remember what it was. Occasionally he spoke, but for most of the time sat quietly on a couch in a corner of the bar. About eight o'clock she heard a slight report resembling the explosion ofl a cracker. A por- j ter who had been in another compartment | Bf'the bar went to see what had happen- J ed and found that deceased had shot | fcimself with a revolver, which he was still grasping in one of his hands. No other person, she said, had been with ■deceased in the particular compartment prior to the tragedy. The police, on being called in, found deceased with his head and body leaning on the end of the couch. Blood was running from his nose and mouth, ana he appeared to be dead. At his side on the couch was a six"thambered revolver, containing four loaded cartridges, and two shells. One of the cartridges in the chamber between the two blanks having missed fire. Drs. Gilmer and Fyffe examined the body and uubsequently found that the bullet had been "discharged in the mouth, and that it had lodged in the brain. Some difficulty was) experienced in getting an express to remove the body to the Morgue, and in the meantime a large crowd of people gathered about the hotel. Mr. J. H. Pagni, licensee of the hotel, states that he knew deceased for some years. Until a few months ago he dined at the hotel on Sundays, but never, as far as Mr. Pagni was aware, visited fthe place on week days. Deceased was a member of the Working Men's Club. He is said to have been a very reserved • man, who never spoke about his private affairs. He had no relations in Wellington, and is believed to be a single man. An inquest concerning the death is to be held by Mr. Jas. Ashcroft at the Morgue <»t 2.30 to-morrow aflternoon.