SUICIDE AT PARNELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9095, 2 July 1888, Page 5

SUICIDE AT PARNELL.

Shocking discovery.

A MAN FOUND SHOT DEAD. Abou* noon yesterday the body of a man was discovered at Point Resolution, Parnell, under circumstances -which point to his having committed suicide in a somewhat sensational manner. The particulars of the finding of the body are as follows : —A young man named Frnest Hould, who resides in Napier-street, was yesterday at Point Resolution with his father, looking around the battei-y. The young man looked down over the cliff, and discovered the dead body of a man lying in the water, close to the cliff, at tho eastern or Hobson's Bay side of the point. He called his father's attention to the matter, and they at once informed Mr. James Connelly, a member of the Permanent Force, who is in charge of the fortification, and he ran to inform Constable Hobson of the discovery. The body was first seen about twenty minutes to twelve o'clock, and at twelve o'clock the constable started with Mr. Connelly for the point. It was then high water, and they found the body lying near a ledge, and just covered with water, and on the ledge itself the constable found a new British bulldog revolver, of very small size, in which there was one discharged cartridgecase, all the other chambers being empty. The body was lifted out of the water, and it was then seen that there was a bullet wound in the upper part of the centre of the forehead. There were no other wounds, but blood could be seen under the water where the body was found, so that, it would appear that the unfortunate man had shot himself with his back towards the cliff, and had fallen forward over the ledge where he was subsequently found. Constable Hobson did not know deceased, but recollects having seen him before about town. He searched the body and found in one of the pockets five £1 notes, a halfsovereign, and 5s in silver ; also a wooden tobacco pipe with silver ferule and amber mouthpiece, an ordinary tin matchbox, and a single-bladed common clasp knife. He telephoned for the water paiice., and Sergeant Clarke and Constable McDonnell at once came Along with their boat, and took the body to the morgue. Like Constable -lobson they recollected having seen the deceased, but were not able to identify him, and there were no papers found in his possession. He was apparently about 28 or 30 years of age, about 5 feet 9 inches in height, of square, strong build, dark complexion, dark brown hair, cut short; clean shaved, except a heavy dark moustache. He was dressed in coarse bluo serge clothes, and wore lace-up boots. He had the appearance of being either a seafaring man or a labourer, as his nands bore the indication of laborious work. The body was quite cold and stiff when discovered, and it was evident that he had been dead for some hours. An inquesb will no doubt be held to-day, and in all probability the deceased will be identified before that time. Of course until his identity is established no idea can be formed as to the motive which led a young strong man like deceased, who was evidently not in want of means, to commit the rash act of taking his own life.