YOUTH’S SUICIDE

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1934, Page 8

YOUTH’S SUICIDE

TRAGEDY OF JEALOUSY. Lpeb pbess association.] MARTON, June 4. “It is particularly deplorable wlr-n a young man of robust health and cheerful spirits decides to end his life because of a misunderstanding with his sweetheart.’’ With these words, the district Coroner, Mr F. C. Wilson, this morning concluded the inquest into the shooting fatality at Turakina in which Ray Podjursky, aged 19, was found dead outside the home of his fiancee, Kathleen Johnston, aged 17 years. In evidence, the girl said that on Thursday night, the deceased had tea at her father’s home. Afterwards when conversing at. the gate, he accused her of being friendly with another young man, which she denied. Finally she returned his ring. They talked further, and he finally kissed ner_goodnight,’ agreeing to discuss the difference next day. In the morning she went to get the cows at 6.30 and then she saw Roy lying near the gate. She thought that he was playing a joke, but found that he was dead. There was a- gun nearby. A piece of leather was attached to the fence, and this had apparently been tied to the trigger, A note was found on the body addressed to the girl in affectionate terms, saying that he could not live without her, and wishing her happiness. The Coroner s verdict was that Roy Podjursky, while demented, suicided by shooting himself with a shotgun.