THE GORE SUICIDE

Evening Star, Issue 12602, 6 September 1905, Page 6

THE GORE SUICIDE

At the inquest at Gore yesterday on John M'Kinna, who shot liiinself on the previous day, Inspector Mitchell said that all he proposed to do that day -was to call evidence of identification, and then to adjourn the inquest for a. future occaaion, when he would be in. a position to show ihe probable cause oi suicide. Walter MTvitma. said that the deceased was a brother of his. To Mr Bowler: He had given no information to the papers as to tlio suicide. lie did not know how the account in that morning"? paper, the ' Standard,' had been, obtained Mr Bowks! strongly objected to' the account of the occurrence which bad been published by that paxnir, and to the matter being placed before the public as it had been. Injector Mitchell had said that he woniu lead evidence to fihow that it was a casa of Filicide, but the jury .v-hould have been left to draw their own conclusions from the evidence. 'Hie report referred to had been so mixed up with sheep-stealing that it would tend to boas not only in the minds of the public, but also in those of the jury. He had been instructed by the relatives to make thrtt objection, and thought it was a valid one, as the report practically connected the deceased with the disappearance of sheep which had occurred in the district. It was most unfair to the family, and they had just reason to object. The Acting Coroner (Mr Martin), who is publisher of the 'Standard,' raid the jurywere sworn to come to a conclusion upon the evidence placed before them, and net upon what they might hear in the street or read in the papers. He/was then speaking as coroner, arid the newspaper referred to would be answerable for its actions. Mr Bowler 6aid the question could be gone into later. Walter M'Kinna, recalled, stated that he had gone to the editor of the journal in question and requested as a favor that he should not publish more than was necessary regarding the occurrenceInspector Mitchell said he did not intend to go further into the inquiry at that stage. It would be necessary to make inquiries at a considerable distance, and if sufficient time were not allowed it might he necessary to ask for a further adjournment. Mr Bowler said it was not necessary to do any more than prove the cause of death, and a lengthy inquiry into sheep-stealing was not requisite. The Inspector said it was incumbent upon thepolice to daw motive for the deed. The inquest was then adjourned till the 15th inst.

One of the jurors said ii» seemed to hiro that all the jury had to do was to find how the deceased came by his death, and not to go into an-elaborate inquiry upon sheepstealmg. Mr Bowfcr: I ant very pleased to hear you say so.