INQUEST ON CONSTABLE JOHNSTON.

Evening Star, Issue 9581, 29 December 1894, Page 2

INQUEST ON CONSTABLE JOHNSTON.

An inquest was held at the Rainbow Hotel this morning, before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six (Mr 0. Bills foreman), on the body of Aud re w Joh'nstqh, police constable, Who was found shot on Thursday afternoon, Dr Brown stated that on Thursday afternoon he was asked to see a man who was found shot in the Botanical Gardens. He went to the scene and saw him lying on the path on the east side of the creek running through the gardens. He was lying on his back at full length with bis arms by his side. There was u large clot of blood on the left side, of his waistcoat. Witness removed the clothing and found a bullet wound under the fourth rib, right oVer the region of the heart. The man was dead, but the body was warm. Judging from the condition of the blood the man had been dead some time within an hour. Witness was shown the revolver, and from the appearance of the clothing he was of the opinion that the wound bad been self-inflicted.

Sergeant Clark, of North Dunedin, stated that deceased was a police constable stationed at the central station. About a fortnight ago deceased was doing duty uuder witness for about twenty days. He found him to be of a dull and melancholy nature. Witness, on searching deceased's clothing, found a letter (produced) addressed to Mrs Johnston. Ho examined the revolver, and found two blank cartridges, one ball cartridge, and three empty chambers, which had the appearance of having been recently discharged. John George Walton, a visitor to Dunedin, said he was in the Botanical Gardens on Thursday afternoon. He was resting on a seat under the shade of a large tree near the bridge, when he heard a shot fired, succeeded directly by a sound as if a cap was being snaped, but there was no explosion. Almost immediately after he heard a low moaning sound. He then arose from his seat, and went in thedirectiou thesound came from, and in crossing the bridge he looked over the raii, but saw no one there. He turned to his right after crossing the bridge, and about twenty paces above the track he saw deceased lying on his back on the track. He stooped over him and held the back of his hand to the man's mouth, but he had ceased to breathe. There Was n'O motion of the body. Witness did not touch the body, but saw a quantity of blood on the centre of the breast, spread over the waistcoat. He saw a rpyojypr like that produced lying on the grass.close to the right foot, with the butt of it towards the right hand.

Eldred John Dick Harcus also gave evidence. Laura Rachel Johnston, wife of deceased, stated that the letter produced was in deceased's handwriting. During the last three weeks he had been very quiet. He was troubled about a charge being heard against him, and took it very j much to heart. He was of a weak-minded | nature. lie was thirty years of age, and was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. Inspector stated that deceased was transferred from the Aitulevy to the polio'o aboiit three months ago. On the morning of the 25th inst. a complaint was lodged against him for being absent from his beat during the previous night, On Thursday morning witness was howipg an inquiry into the matter, and at a quarter to one it was -adjourned till half-past two. Deceased failed to put in an appearance at the hour stated, and shortly afterwards witness received a telephone message stating that Johnston had shot himself in the Botanical Gardens, While the inquiry was being hold deceased did rtot appear to understand what was going on. Whenever he was spoken to he would give a spring. He had never been in trouble before. He was perfectly sober, and witness never noticed the sign of drink about him. The letter found on deceased was addressed to his wife and three children, and was to the effect -that had worried himself so much over the case he could not plead for himself The jury returned a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane.