SUICIDE OF MB CONNELL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9512, 7 September 1891, Page 2

SUICIDE OF MB CONNELL.

AUCKLAND, August 21. John Aitken Connell, aged fifty-one, formerly a resident of Dunedin, was found dead, from a gunshot wound, this morning, in a room at Deacon’s Hotel, Eiverhead. He went up the night previously in charge of a Government survey party, ordered breakfast for half an hour earlier, hut did not come down. His men went to his bedroom, and saw deceased lying on the bed, a pool of blood on the carpet, and close at hand there was a small revolver recently discharged, Mr Connell opposed Mr Mitchelson the election before last, when he described himself as “ the tactician.” A year ago he delivered lectures in Wellington on the labour difficulty. It is a strange coincidence tbat Mr Mitchelson’s opponents at the two last elections both met violent deaths recently. Mr Connell had been in indifferent health for some time past. The remarks he made to his friends on leaving Auckland, on Thursday, and the directions which he gave for work to be done to-day, showed that he did not then contemplate any violent act. Mr Connell, before the party started, asked Mr Jordan to take care of him as he was nob well and required attention. It appears he had been suffering from carbuncles. ■ Ever since he contested Eden electorate with Mr Mitchelson he has not been the same man, and the excitement of politics had apparently destroyed the balance of his mind.* August 24. At the inquest on the body of J. Aitken Connell, a verdict was returned that deceased died by shooting himself with a revolver. The post-mortem examination showed that death was instantaneous. The skull was badly fractured in two places. A bulldog revolver was found, loaded in four chambers.