SALESMAN’S SUICIDE

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1938, Page 5

SALESMAN’S SUICIDE

INQUEST CONCLUDED. A verdict of suicide was returned, to-day, when the inquest was concluded at Greymouth, concerning the death of Humphrey Sebaston Campbell, 29, radio salesman, whose body was found in the bush, near the Tayloryille-Black-hall, Road, last Saturday, with a Mwtgun alongside it. The Coroner (Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M.) presided, and the proceedings were conducted by Sergeant A. H. Barnes. The evidence of deceased’s wife, Deirdre Campbell, was taken last Saturday, and was published in the “Star”

on Monday... , Murray Hamilton Green, radio and swashing-machine salesman, employed by.'A. R. Harri.s anjl .Co., said that he had been employed by the firm for 1 about three weeks. Gajnpbell .yas also employed by the firm, and lived in the same room with witness. He knew that Campbell was married, and that his Wife had gone to Wellington to reside. Campbell did not mention having had any row With his wife. So far as witness could gather, he had agreed that she should go to her people, to give him a. chance to get a good start, and that slie should return to him in about six weeks. About a fortnight ago, Campbell was worrying about his problems, and the subject of suicide came up. He suggested that he would shoot himself, but witness did not take him seriously, thinking that he was joking. One day. when they were in the town, Campbell drew witness’s attention to some guns in a window, and he casually remarked that he wondered if a .22 would do the job. All this was in a joking way. and witness did not take the matter seriously. On Tuesday, August 30. Campbell appeared quite cheerful, but complained of trouble with his stomach, and did not feel like working. About 10 a.m., Campbell and witness went over to Cobden ip the firm’s car, and witness dropped Campbell about the second hotel after crossing the bridge. He said that he was going for a walk round past the bridge. This was the last time witness saw him, and there was nothing to suggest that he might intend to commit suicide. He supposed that he knew Campbell better than any other member of the firm, and also knew more about his troubles than anyone else, but it nevei’ occurred to witness that he might be serious in his talk of suicide, or that his socalled troubles would appear to him to be sufficient to make him seriously think about that as a way out. Had it occurred to witness that Campbell was seriously thinking about suicide, witness would have endeavoured to stop him from doing so, but he always appeared so cheerful, and not inclined to be a man of that sort. Witness identified the shoes, pocket wallet with, the initials “H.5.C.,” tobac.co pouch, sundry papers, and art union ticket (produced) as belonging to Campbell. Witness and Campbell bought the art union ticket between them. Witness also identified the letters addressed to I “Deirdre Darling” and “To the Mag-5 istrate,” as being in Campbell’s handwriting. In reply to the Coroner, witness said he did not think there was anything r in Campbell’s manner to cause apprehension. _ I

What were the so-called troubles? — He was getting on in life, being 29 years of age, and had not started in a career.

DOMESTIC TROUBLE DENIED. There was nothing of any domestic trouble? —No. His money was getting dowh, and he had to do something about it. He had a wife to support. James Herbert Haines, manager of Haines Motors, Ltd.,. Rental Car Agency, Greymouth, said that a young ■man named H. S. Campbell took delivery of a rental car at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 30. He signed a. contract, allowing him to take the car 25 miles, and to have it for four hours. Witness knew deceased was a salesman employed by A. R. Harris and Co. Witness took deceased out in the car. around the block, at his suggestion, to show him, or to make sure he could manage the car. He appeared to be acting quite normally. He was Sobet, and there was no smell of liquor on him. When he got the car, deceased said that he had a halfday off, and was going to have a look round in the car. Deceased did not return the car that day, and at 9.30 o’clock the following morning, deceased had not communicated with witness in any way, so he reported the matter to the police. On the night of August 'Bl, he learnt that the rental cartaken by Campbell had been found abandoned on the Blackball Road, just near the footbridge to Stillwater.

Ivan Thomas Bennington, sports dealer, Mackay Street, said that Campbell called at Ills shop; about a fortnight ago, and asked to be shown some shotguns. He examined a number of guns, and asked the prices, and then said he- would be back again to- purchase a 12-gauge single-barrel Savage shotgun. He said that Ire Wanted the gun to go out shooting with some, friends into the Country. He gave witness the impression that he was merely pottering about the country as a student writer. On August 30, deceased came into the shop again, and said he had come for the gun. He asked if it was necessary' to pay cash, and, on being told that it was, he produced £4 10/-, and paid for the gun. He asked for a packet of cartridges, and was supplied with them. Witness also gave him a bottle of oil, for cleaning purposes, and showed him how to operate the gun. On each occasion he' entered the shop, he appeared quite normal, and gave no indication of his intention Io take his life. Witness identified the gun produced, as that sold to deceased.

Constable J. Johnson said that, on September 3, accompanied by Constable Cogswell, he was searching the bush on the west side of the TaylorvilleBlackball road, near the footbridge. About 9 a.m., he found the body of deceased, lying across a log. The body was lying with the head to the west. A single-barrel shotgun was lying between the legs, with the point of the barrel about six inches from the mouth. There was a. piece of string tied from the trigger of the gun to the right, foot, of deceased. The trigger was down, and a discharged cartridge was in the breech of the gun. The top portion of the head was blown completely away by the explosion, the features being unrecognisable. Deceased apparently put. the barrel of the gun in his mouth, and pulled the trigger with the string that, was attached from the trigger to his foot. On searching the body, witness found a sheet, of pink paper, on which were written letters addressed to “Deirdre Darling.” and “To the Magistrate’’; also a wallet on which were deceased's initials, a tobacco pouch, a license to drive a motor-vehicle, issued to Humphrey Campbell at Christchurch on July 18. 1938, and sundry papers in connection with radio sales. Witness identified the shoes (produced) as

those Campbell was wearing. The gun produced was that, found with the body. The latter was quite stiff, and appeared to have been dead two or three days. Owing to the extent of the injuries to the face and head, it was not possible to identify the features. There were no other marks or injuries on the body. The Coroner: From this evidence, and from the evidence of the wife of deceased, alreadj’ taken, it is evident, that the deceased committed suiicde. The letters to his parents and his wife were written on August 18, dnd his act' was apparently committed on August 30. The letters show that his settled intention of committing suicide. The verdict is that Campbell died 'oh or about August 30, on the west side of the Taylorville-Blackball road, the cause of death being a gunshot wound, in the head, seif-inflicted.