FATUITIES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 20 September 1909, Page 4

FATUITIES.

(United Press Association.) CHBISTCHUKOH, Sunday. An inquest touching tho death of Samuel Whaler .Burnett was held t,oJay. Mrs Burkett, widow of the deceased, stated thit she last saw him alive about 10.30 o'clock on Thursday morning. He was then leaving the house, aal he said that he was 'going for a stroll. As far as ■witness knew he did not take a revolver "with him; but lie possessed .1 revolver, -which was not now in the drawer which it was usually kepi in, and she had been imalilo to find it. Hor husband bought it about three or' lour years ago, whua ho was licensee of the Eastern Hotel. He had got it, "witness understood, for the purposes of self-defence. Her husband appeared to be a bi- upset sfief tiio receipt of a summons from Mr Donaldson. He did not scOiu us usual. That was the first' time she had noticed anything unusual. As' her husband had always paid his way, she had asked him when ho got the fir«t summons if he could pay the money, and urged him to do so. Ho had Toplied that his current account had run out. He could pay tho amount, but she understood that his money was tied up. It was the first trouble that she knew that he had had in respect to any money matters of any sort. Subsequently she had asked deceased if he had made money matters all right with Donaldson, and he had replied in the affirmative. During the .past 18 months her hunsband had not confided his financial matters to her in order that she might not be worried. Witness knew no otter trouble that would have led hor husband to take his life. A verdict was given that the deceased committed suicide, and that his mind appeared to be unhinged owing to financial difficulties. About 12.30 on Saturday afternoon Charles Winter, 23 years of age, was drowned in the upper Waiau river, near the ferry. He was crossing the river in a dray, which by some meana capsized, and Winter was pinned beneath it, and was drowned before assistance could reach him. He was employed at the Waiau Hotel, and his father resides in this city. 1 DUNEDIN, Sunday, j Yesterday morning at South Bridgu, near Milton, Walter Herbert Thompson, whose people reside in Milton, was killed owing to a pearifla accident. Thompson, who is a lad of 35 years, worked for Mr E. Porter, farmer, and he was instructed to kill some fowls. The boy was evidently executing the order when the fatality occurred. Deceased was in the habit of killing fowls with a pea rifle, which was found discharged, lying between the. buggy. and some far mimploments I in the shed, and 16 yards away th lad was found. It is supp6sed that tho rifle knocked against one of the implements an<{ went off, and that tho lad staggered to where he finally fell.