INQUEST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 78, 2 April 1868, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday at Pig Valley (Te Aroulicnua) Waimea South, before the Coroner, Dr Squires, and a jury, on tho body of Frederick Tofft, tiie brother of a settler, now in India with liis regiment, who was found dead, shot through the head, on Monday morning. From the evidence of two shepherds ou the farm, it appeared that the deceased has beeu to Nelson on Sunday, aud returned about half-past 3 o'clock on that day. He usually enjoyed good spirits, but on that afternoon he seemed depressed and enployed himself iv writing until the evening. He instructed the two shepherds to go to Mi- Hugh Martin's on Monday morning, to fetch some sheep, aud ou their return they found him lying dead on the floor. Dr. Oldham, who had been called 'n to examine the body, stated in evidence, that the deceased was lying on his face, with his right arm under him. his left arm by his side, and his faco iv a pool of blood. The ball had entered just behind the angle of the jaw in the mesial line, fracturing the lower and upper jaws, and causiug dislocation of the entire skull. A small gun was lying beside him, with the muzzle next to his head, and there were no other marks of violence upon him. Dr. Oldham gave it as his opinion that the act was self-inflicted. A letter was lying on the table directed to his sister-in-law, which contained a key and the deceased's discharge from the army, aud it. was deposed b} r Mr. Batchelor that, he knew no reason for the rash deed, unless it were the fact of his haviug lost money ou the run, aud being troubled about his sheep trespassing, in reference to which he had received a summons. No other evidence whatever was elicited which could throw any light upon the subject, and the Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased destroyed himself whilst suffering from temporary insanity.