THE DUNEDIN POST OFFICE TRAGEDY. (Dunedin Star.)

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8363, 24 December 1895, Page 4

THE DUNED IN POST OFFICE TRAGEDY. (Dunedin Star.)

The death of Joseph Herbert Orr wu inquired into on Saturday ab the Hospital by the Coroner's Court, over which Mr Carew presided, Mr Frank H. Lfttag acing as foreman. Samuel Orr deposed that deceased, hii ion, wai born at InvercargiU, and wm foarbeen years and four months old. Witness had never before seen the revolver produced. Be had no explanation to offer in regard to the affair. He had leea the single key prodnoed. Ib used to be aboub the office, but did not open anything. One of the keys on the ring opened the gate of the yafd known as Gibsons yard, anobher wai the key of his son's cash and stamp till, and a third was the post office box key. Deceased had not been in the office for two or three weeks before Thursday. Witness recognised that in his abience one or other of hie sons (deceased or another) would examine the letter box and forward letters on to him. To Inspector Pardy : When witness saw his son at the hospital on Thursday night be asked him " Why did you do it 1 M He said either then or some time afterwards " I never intended to do it." Witness added : When I put the qnestion to him I thoughb perhaps some cross word had been spoken to him at home. Nothing had occurred, to my knowledge to lead me to suppose that any such thing had taken place. Edward Gooke, chief postmaster, said that several comolainta were made commencing fivt or six weeks ago, of letters being lost from the lettsr-boxei. The hit complaint was from the Pbcenix Company. On Thursday witneM placed a test letter in the box about 3 30. Before leaving the office at 4.30 witness examined the box and the letter was gone. He reported the matter to Detective O'Connor, and arranged with him to watch in the lobby. Henry Ferens, post office clerk, gave evidence to the effect that he was in the Post Office at seven o'clock on Thursday night, and saw the detective there. A letter withoub an envelope was brought to witness. It was found looee in the receiving box at the entrance. Witness enclosed it in an envelop, directed it, stomped it, cancelled the stamp, and at the suggestion of the deteotive put the lebter in the Pbcenix bor. Ab 10 p.m. witness looked in the box, and this letter was gone. Chief-Detective O'Connor narrated to the Court the incidents a' ready published, of his lyiDg in wait, of bis detection of the purloining of a letter, of his chase after and capture of bhe lad, and of the labier's shooting him•elf wih a snnll seven chambered revolver which witness took from him. On the way to the hospital the Jai appealed to bhe constable to shoot him, laying he wanted to die. Wibness thought he said he did not wanb to disgrace his father. The keys prodnced were found in the lad's pockets, The keys described by Mr Orr as the key of his lebber box opened the Phraaix box as well as Mr Orrs box. Witneii had tried them. The two botei stand sft to 6ft apart, and are not in the lame tier, The Foreman : Seeing that the boy was in an excited state, is there any chance that the pistol went off aocldently, Witness t I don't know. He said that he would sboob himielf He might eaily have shot me. If I had known be bad a revolver I would bays rushed him at first. Witness added that he believed the lad had tbe revolver with him. He saw something in his hand, but did nob dream ib was a revolver. One of the cabmen had since told witness that he saw a pistol in the lad's hand as he was running. Mr Carew : And be didn't call oub to you as you went by 1 Witness : No. Alex. Pbelan, a boy, Baid bhab on Thursday evening, aboub twenby minutes to nine, he picked up the letter produced ( he lost letter) at) bhe corner of Water and Bond streets. Dr Ross, house surgeon at the hospital, gave evidence as to his carrying out the treatment directed by Dr Davis. The cause of death was a wound through the lung. Tbe jury consulted for ten minubes and then returned bhis verdict) : " That deceased met his death by a pistol ehob salf-inflicbed when in a state of mental excitement.

Jo the half-year 578 persons were killed and 1895 iojured on railways in the Halted Kingdom.