THE LOFT AFFAIR.

Evening Star, Issue 7339, 11 October 1887, Page 2

THE LOFT AFFAIR.

The last witnesses examined at yesterday s inquest were Joseph Reynolds (the young man who went for the police and an express) and Sergeant O'Neill. Reynolds's evidence was merely corroborative of that given by his father. Sergeant O'Neill stated: "Constable Miller and myself sighted deceased about 150 yards from the house on a newly-formed road. He wa3 standing facing us. We ads anced until we were within about sixty yards of him. All at once he turned his back on us and walked in an opposite direction. After goiog two or three paces he lifted his right hand, ia which he held a revolver, turned half round, showing his profile to us_, and fired the revolver into Mb mouth. He immediately fell. We hastened to his assistance, and found him not quite dead. The revolver was lying at his right side. It is a six-chambered revolver. Two of the chambers had the appearance of having been recently discharged: a third chamber opposite the barrel had also been recently discharged. We searched the body, and found 13s 6d in cash, two handkerchiefs, and a piece of pencil; also, a theatre programme (produced), on which there is a lot of unintellig*.ble and apparently senseless writing in pencil. MiBS Bury says it is deceased's handwriting. One of the bystanders informed the police that deceased had thrown his gold watch and chain do.vn the bank. These were recovered, and are now in the possession of the pol'ce."— The Coroner said that he did not think the jury could come to any other conclus'on than that deceased died by his own hand. As to his mental condition, there was the statement of Dr Maunsell that when he first saw deceased he thought he was suffering from delirium tremens; and he (the Coroner) thought there was sufficient evidence to show that decessed did not know what he was doing.—After about a quarter of an hour's consultation, the Foreman of the jury announced that they had come to the conclusion that deceased shot his wife and then himself The Coroner reminded the Foreman that they had merely to deal with deceased's case; and a verdict was then returned that deceased shot himself while laboring under temporary insanity. On inquiring this afternoon as to Mrs Loft, Dr Maunsell kindly informed us that she was doing well and progressing fayo ably.