INQUEST.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 1796, 17 May 1912, Page 3

INQUEST.

DEATH OF MR R. K. BRADBURY

Mr E. Goodbhere, Coroner, with a jury of six, yesterday held an inquest at Halcombe on the death oi Mr R. K. Bradbury, who was found dead, at Halcombe.on the evening ot May 15. •-..•■••.., ,-, 4. Dr. McAllum gave evidence that he had examined the body, and found a gunshot wound in the left side- ot the body. The appearance of the wound indicated that the gun was in contact of the body when fired. He gave the cause of death as hemorrhage brought on by the wound. Lucy W. Bradbury stated that her father had not been well for some weeks. He had gone out in the morning, saying he was going to see itthere was water in tho paddock tor the horse, and took the gun in case he should see any rabbits. . John T. Robson gave evidence ot the finding of the body. He explained the position of the gun, which indicated that the deceased had himself fired it. One cartridge had been discharged. A. M. Purkiss Chairman of the Halcombe Town Board, of which deceased was clerk, said he had heard since tho tragedy that Mr Bradbury had stated an attempt had been made to rob the office and to burn it down. He (witness) had seen the deceased on Friday, and no mention was then made of any such thing. G. S. Cawood, a member of the Board, stated deceased had arranged with him on. the evening of May 9 to bank some money. Next morning, on being spoken to, Mr Bradbury said he would bank the money himself, as he had -to go. No mention was made of any attempted robbery. James Adam stated the deceased had seen him at the office on Monday. He said he was in trouble., that the office had been robbed, a sola of exchange for £40, about £5 or £6 of the Board's money, also some church money, had been taken on Thursday night. Witness advised him to communicate at onco with the police. Deceased replied he supposed no ono would believe his story, as he was sure witness did not. Deceased went on to say he had made up his • mind to take his life. He produced a chlorodine -bottle, and said ho had taken about half of it that morning, but it only made him sick. Witness took the "bottle away from him, and found it empty; but Mr Bradbury said he had taken the balanco during'the afternoon. Deceased shook hands with witness, and bade him. good-bye, saying that was I tlie last timo he would sco him alive. 1 Witness die! not think Mr Bradbury was serious. .. A. G. Burcham stated deceased was a neighbour of his, and had left a wife and ton children. He had received a private letter from deceased after the tragedy. Sergeant Bowden stated ho had received"* a letter which had »been addressed to him by deceased. In consequence of certain allegations made in the letter regarding a theft, and an attempt to burn down the Board office, investigations wero made. Such statements, so far as the police could ascertain, were without foundation. Detective Siddels assisted in the investigation, and the police could find no grounds for believing the allegation. On examining the records of the office, it was found that receipts for £37 ss. _H had been issued to various people since March, 1912, but no payments appeared to have been lodged in the bank. The jury- returned the following verdict: That the deceased,-Roland 1 Keats Bradbury, came to his death from a gunshot wound self-inflicted I while in a state of temporary iusanlity.