THE DOMAIN TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6054, 13 April 1881, Page 6

THE DOMAIN TRAGEDY.

CORONER'S INQUEST. A coroner's inquest was held yesterday at the Provincial Hospital, before Dr. Philson and a jury, on the body of Charles Wegelieben, who was found lying dead in the Domain, with a pistol bullet through, his head, on Monday forenoon. The jury having elected George D. Bevin as their foreman, proceeded to view the body at the morgue of the Hospital, after which the following evidence was adduced :— Alfred Roberts deposed that he was a sawyer by occupation, and at present a patient in the Provincial Hospital. Witness then described finding the deceased lying dead near the ponds. John Bryce, head nurse at the Provincial Hospital, deposed that when he was called by last witness, he went immediately about 400 yards from the hospital and found the body of deceased lying on the face on the ground amongst the shrubbery. Witness turned him over on his right side, and saw Wood on the face and on the uosk. The face had a bluish appearance. He put his hand to deceased's forehead, and found it quite cold, but the limbs were supple and flexible, and the arms folded across .the chest. Underneath the body found the revolver (produced), ■which is a six-chambered weapon, and quite new. Five of the chambers were loaded with ball cartridge, and one was empty, the cartridge " case " being still in the chamber. Believe the revolver to have been recently discharged ; it was lying in close proximity to deceased's right hand. The body was respectably clothed, and his hat was on his head. Observed blood on the ground near deceased's head on the grass. At once identified the body as that of a man who had been lately a patient in the hospital, a native of Germany, by trade a tanner, and aged 45. He was admitted to the hospital about the Ist of March last, and was discharged in about three weeks. Complained much of indigestion and flatulence, and also of headache. Did not during his stay in hospital observe any sign of mental disease about him. He was intelligent and sensible, and rather a superior sort of man. Had a very good appetite, and slept well. He was stout and able-bodied. Had no suspicion that he, contemplated suicide, as he had no signs of melancholy about him. Be read a good deal. Deceased informed witness that he had been in the employ of Messrs. Ireland Brothers, and loft owing to ill-health, being unable to do heavy work. He looked strong and hearty, and weighed about 13 stone. Said he had been offering from a complaint for several yea:- He had no revolver when at the ospital —nothing but his own persona, clothing. The trousers and boots he had ofl were the same as worn at the hospital. Never complained of lack of money. Had never seen deceased since he left the hospital, but was informed that he had been there once to see a. countryman of his named Christian Bohm, who is bedridden with rheumatism, and cannot attend the inquest. Bohm made the following statement to me:—"l last saw Wegelieben on Tuesday, the sth April, in the afternoon. He then seemed dull and low-spirited, and said he would likely go to work on Friday as he had been promised work by Mr. Gittos. He said one time to me that it would be a good thing for him if some doctor would give him a dose of poison to put him out of the way, as he suffered so mu3h, and no one seemed to understand his' disease. He complained to me of pains in the stomach. Also, pains in the head, and a loss of memory. He told me he had no relatives in New Zealand, but had a brother in Berlin, a tanner. When he left San Francisco, he, had 500' dollars, but he had spent a lot of money oh medical advice. He went to England last year, and came back to Melbourne by way of the Cape. He said, when he came to Auckland, he had £20. He (Bohm) was not aware that deceased bad a revolver. He said to me he had been bad tor six years, and at one time he had been in the hospital in America. Hewas asingleman." Bohm told witness that he had no suspicion deceased contemplated suicide, but ihought him merely low-spirited. There ivas no appearance of a straggle having taken place when witness found the body. , Partly searched deceased's pockets in the presence )f Dr. Cooper, and found a gold chain and silver watch. ; The watch was going, and ndicated 11.26 o'clock. Also found a purse :ontaining 3s 2d, and an American coin, K>bacco pouch, &c. There were also five nedical prescriptions from doctors in New iTork,- San Francisco,' and Auckland,, and )ther .documents, which were in the purse. Dne of the documents appeared to.be; written n the same hand as that of deceased in the lospital books, and ran as follows :—" It is io more possible for me to live anyloriger ibout so I beg forgiveness on this ash apt, and bid good-bye for this world. [ am sick so long a term, and no doctor help ne. I have a box with clothes at Mr. foigt'a, Wakefield-street, which belongs to ne, and where I owe something." The body vas clean and decently clad when witness ourid it, and showed no signs of destitution. Charles Cooper, hospital assistant and iispenaer, deposed that he knew, the de:eased as a patient from the Ist to the 21st tfarch. He J complained of pains in his itomach, but more particularly of a rumbling loise in his bowels. He did not appear to )e seriously ill; had a good appetite, and lept well. Appeared better when he was lischarged; and said he thought he could do ight labour if he could get it. Was not harged for. his medical treatment in hos-' >ital to witness's knowledge. He showed io signs of mental derangement. Had not een deceased since he left the hospital till ie saw him lying dead on Monday in the Domain. Had no doubt that deceased had >een shot in the head through the left nostril, rad that the revolver bullet must have entered he brain. The head had not been examined hat the jury might see the body exactly ae it ras discovered. Believed the pistol was ired by deceased, as it would be difficult for mother man to fire up the nostril in the way n which the wound had been inflicted. Chere was no smell of drink about the body. Frederick Voigt, being sworn; deposed ;hat he was a shoemaker by occupation, and ived in Wakefield-streeti Knew deceased 'or about a fortnight. He lodged at Gleeson's ifotel, but came to witness's house fremently as a visitor, as he was countryman.' Che last time that witness saw him alive was )n the wharf on Sunday morning about 10 )'clock, but had no conversation with him. Ee never appeared ill or to have signs of nental derangement. He used to complain >f being tired. A box of deceased's clothes was lying in witness's house, which he asked permission to remove from Ireland's store. Deceased owed witness for a pair of boots Mid a few shillings which he borrowed last week, saying he was hard up and had no money ._ Never saw the revolver ' in his possession'.- On Monday, on hearing of deceased's death, made inquiries atthe hotel, nnd was told by the landlady that deceased had been spending' Sunday evening .-with some German men-of-war sailors. On Sunday evening he took his tea all right, and went to bed. On Monday morning he was missed iit breakfast, but it was not known when he went; out. Could offer no opinion as to the circumstances of his death—it was a mystery to him. Deceased had two carpet bags, and the revolver might have been in one of them. Deceased was a very sober man. • ; . ; ...... A servant girl at Gleeson's hotel who had been the last to see him alive, on Sunday : evening, had been warned by the police

to be in attendance to give evidence, but she. never appeared. Dr. Philson expressed regret that she had not eome, as her evidence might have thrown some light upon the affair. But, as there was no testimony- forthcoming, he would leave them to consider their verdict. Subsequently the Coroner was recalled, and the following additional evidence taken:— Douglas Gordon deposed that he was a constable in the Armed Constabulary. He removed " the body of deceased to the hospital, finding on it the revolver case (produced) and other articles. Went to Gleeson's Hotel, and saw Mr. Patrick Gleeson, who informed witness that deceased had been a lodger. Deceased was last there on Sunday evening, in company with some German man-of-war sailors. He was singing songs, and appeared to be in excellent spirits. Also saw Ellen Ryan, servant in the hotel, who told witness that, between seven and eight o'clock on Sunday evening, she went round the bedrooms, for the purpose of putting candlesticks "in them, and oil going into the room which deceased occupied, she noticed that he was in bed. She said, '' I beg your pardon. I did not know you were in." That was the last seen of him, as no one saw him go out. There were two carpet bags full of wearing apparel belonging to him in his room. Deceased had applied to Mr. Gleeson on Wednesday last for a fortnight's credit for his board and lodging, which had been allowed him. Mr. Gleeson said he had no suspicion of deceased contemplating suicide. After some deliberation, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased shot himself while in a state of temporary insanity. One juryman out of the fourteen diasented, and was desirous of bringing in a verdict oijelo de se.