SUICIDE.

Evening Star, Issue 13002, 22 December 1906, Page 7

SUICIDE.

An inquest -was held at the morgue this morning on the body of Alexander Ronald Macdonald, who was found dead at Mornington on Thursday evening. Alexander M’Phersou, timber merchant, residing at Boslyn, said he first saw deceased on Monday last. He came to witness’s office in Moray place and introduced himself. He said he thought he was a distant relative of his on his (witness’s) mother's side. From questions ho asked him ho thought he was nght. He then seemed in good health, but witness thought he was slightly peculiar. Witness took him out, and they had a cup of tea together. He went home with witness ior lunch. He asked him to stay till after tea, and he did so. He did not complain about being hard up. Witness never saw him again. He told him that he was twentysix years of age, and said that he had been doing anything that turned up. Ho further said that he had been in South Africa during the war. He seemed to be despondent in some respects. Witness's mother-in-law sppko a few cheery words to him, but he said that it was too late now; that he was too far gone. The Coroner said that a letter was found on deceased ready for posting to Mr George Gordon, Geraldine, South Canterbury. It said that ho was sorry to tell him that he was going to shoot himself, and expressed the hope that his friend would never come to this. He enclosed a sprig of heather. He said that he was sending his discharge from the war to his little sister, and enclosed an order for some photographs which he wished sent Home to the address Miss Mary Macdonald, 73 Govan road, Glasgow, Scotland. He added: “ I do not still believe there is a hell as it is described in the Bible, and 1 will say a few words of prayer in real earnest. 1 will choose a quiet place, so as I can have a good shot at myself without anybody interfering. Also, I hope it is a man that sees me first. I don’t wish to frighten any woman. I will now have a biscuit or two—my last meal —then X will post my discharge and have my last look at Dunedin.”

William John Cox, a boy residing at Glen road, Caversham, said he saw deceased on Thursday evening with a pea rifle in his hand. Ho was hitting his leg with it as he walked along.

Kobert Alexander Brcmncr, a molorman, residing in Momington, said that at about 7.25 on Thursday evening he found deceased’s body lying in Bathgate’s Bush, Neidpath road. lie man was lying on his back. He had his coat and vest off, which were folded under his head. A pea rifle and a box of cartridges were lying by his left side. Constable Power said that the body was partly stiff when he saw it. He found a gunshot wound on the left breast. The shirt and the skin of the body almost directly over the heart showed signs of blackening by smoke. The pea rifle contained a re-cently-discharged cartridge, which had evidently been struck three times before it finally went off. Witness found a number of letters and papers in the man’s possession. There was a pencilled note on an envelope addressed to the Police Department, which stated that a court of inquiry was not necessary, that he had shot himself. He also added that he bad not been feeling well lately, and that ho wished to be buried under tire flag of his own country. He gave his address as Tockervaig, Isle of Skye, Scotland.

The Coroner said that the man was evidently in a despondent state, and was not in his right mind. The jury returned a verdict of “ Suicide while temporarily insane.”