INQUEST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7227, 29 April 1884, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Hospital yesterday afternoon, before Dr J. W. Coward, and a jury of fourteen, on the body of Joseph Henry Greener. Mr W. Kingdon was chosen foreman of the jury. After the jury had viewed the body, the following evidence was taken : Elizabeth Greener, wife of the decoasod, said Bhe saw him alive on Saturday morning at half-past eight. Deceased had been very depressed in spirits for some time, and had been drinking heavily during tho past four weeks. Witness went to deceased's shop about halfpast 8 in the afternoon, and after waiting a short time, looked through the window, as the doors were looked. Saw deceased lying on his right side, with a rovolvor by his side. There v;as blood on the floor. Witness called for assistance, and a man from next door came. Spoke to deceased, but got no answer. Ho was very excitable, and at times hinted that he would take his life, but not in such terms as to lead witness to believe that ho was in Oates: Was a mechanical engineer, and occupied a shop next door to deceased's. About ten minutes past three on Saturday afternoon Mrs Greener called out to witness that her husband had shot himself. Broke open the door, and saw deceased lying on his right side with a revXr in li left hand. Saw a bullet wound on each temple, and Wood on his shirt front. Deceased was breathing, but was quite unconscious. tor Dr Frankish. Witness had seen tho deceased on the premises about 10 o'clock on the morning of bis death. Tire jevolver was

a aix-chaiahorod one, and three chambers were loaded.

Sergeant Wilson: On Saturday last proceeded to deceased's Hhop in Colombo street. On going inside saw deceased lying on inn right aide on the floor. Then, was a bullet wound on each tump],., and a quantity of blood about hid face and head. Deceased never spoke, and died about a quarter past nine. With the exception of the wounds on the temples, there were no other marks of violence on the body, which witness had removed to the morgue. Dr Prankish : Was called to see deceased on Saturday afternoon at a few minutes past three. Found him lying on his right side with blood issuing from Jiis nostrils. There was a bullet wound on both temples. The one on the right temple was smaller than -that on the left, and the skin surrounding the wound was blackened. Deceased was breathing heavily, but was unconscious, and remained so until he died. Witness made a post-mortem examination of the body, and found a considerable effusion of blood surrounding the wounds. The skull was fractured on both sides. Witness was of opinion that both wounds were made by the same ball, which entered the left temple, passed through the brain, and came out at the right temple. Examined the organs of the chest and abdomen, and found them healthy, except the liver, which was considerably enlarged. Witness had known deceased before death, and knew that ho drank to excess periodically. The jury returned a verdict to the effect " That deceased shot himself while of unsound mind."