SUICIDE IN JETTY STREET.

Evening Star, Issue 7403, 24 December 1887, Page 2

SUICIDE IN JETTY STREET.

Edward Royston Bradshftw died by his own hand this morning. Ho was, as most of our readers arc aware, a rabbit-skin merchant, doing business in Jetty street, where he had a store and office. At about a quarter to seven, this morning deceased called at the Pier Hotel for the keys' of bis" premises. This was his custom. At this tifrlo he' soeftled to be in his usual health, and nothing remarkable was observed in his appearance or demeanour. At nine o'clock the office boy, Roger Lee, arrived to look after his ordinal y duties, but on going to the door, found ,it looked on the inside. This led to tho police being communicated with, and Constable Cruickshank, on peering under the door of the store —there being an opening of about an inch between th.c bottom of the door and the step—saw a body on tho floor. The constable at once forced an on trance; and found deceased lying face downward on; a pile of rabbit-skins, with the top of the skull blown away and an Austrian magazine rifle by his side. The bullet had entered by the right eye and come out at the top of the head. Death must have been instantaneous, as tho brains were strewn about tho floor. On searching the body .the police.found a letter addressed to Mrs Bradshaw (who was at Moeraki for, a 'holiday), and also a note in deceased's handwriting, but without signature, stating that "these wretched things" had caused him to do this, and bidding good-bye to all. Deceased was thirty-six years of age, an Englishman, and had: served six years as a private in the Sixth Dragoons,; from which he was discharged with the: highest credit. He had also ,been in the Otago.Police Force for about a year* during pwt of which time he was stationed at Falmerston.' He leaves.a widow and three children.