SUICIDE AT KAUKAPAKAPA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11540, 27 November 1900, Page 5

SUICIDE AT KAUKAPAKAPA.

An inquest was held at the Bridge Hotel, on Friday, 23rd in.st., before Mr. R. Sinclair and a jury of six, of whom Mr. John Young was chosen foreman, on the body of a settler named Henry de Harcourt Johnstone, who shot himself with a revolver on the morning of the 22nd inst., 011 the landing reserve close to the Kaukapakapa bridge, It appears that deceased left his home, near Makarau, in company with his son Frank, a lad about 15, on Monday, the 19th inst., and arrived at the Kaukapakapa Hotel about noon of the same day, where they stayed until the following Thursday morning. On that morning deceased left the hotel between seven and eight o'clock without having breakfast, and in company with his son walked along the road as far as the Kaukapakapa bridge. When they got to the bridge he stopped, arid asked his son if he was hungry. The lad replied that he " could go his breakfast," whereupon his father told him to go up to the Bridge Hotel and get breakfast, and that he would wait for him on the bridge till he returned. The lad went, and as soon as he had got out of sight deceased must have returned a short distance, gone oil' the road into the landing reserve, and committed the rash deed. About half-past eight a schoolboy named Henry Mcßrido, on his way to school, was up a tree on the said reserve looking at a, bird's nest, heard a shot fired a little distance from him, and on looking to the place saw a man fall. The boy got a great fright, and ran in haste to the school, and reported the matter to the teacher. He then returned with some other boys, and told Mr. R. Drinnan, storekeeper, what had happened, who reported the matter to the coroner, and had the body removed to the Bridge Hotel. Deceased, whose wife died two years and a-half ago. has been a great sufferer from paralysis for three years, and was gradually getting worse, until he was unable at times to perform the slightest office for himself. Hence his son had always to accompai y him. On the day they left home deceased gave the lad his purse containing £6, and his pocket-book containing a letter addressed "to the Coroner." That letter showed that his physical infirmities were more than he could bear, and that his mind had become unhinged, and that lie had gradually settled down to a fixed determination to " end an existence that was to him a burden." The letter was written at least a fortnight ago. and stated that deceased had been a sufferer from palsy for three years, and geting worse day after day, and after enumerating a series of misfortunes both real and imaginary, but all very real to him, concludes thus :—"Can you wonder that, finding myself unable, through illness, of performing the slightest offices for myself, and located as I am in close proximity to the lowest wretches it has ever been my misfortune to encounter, that I should desire to end an existence that is a burden to me. I will take this opportunity of bidding goodbye to all my old friends, ani* I have in thing but charity for my enemies.—(Signed) H. DE H. Johnstone." Deceased, who was at one time a lieutenant in the British army, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and came to the colony about 42 years ago, and has been a settler in the Kaukapakapa district 23 years. He was 66 years of age at the time of his death. He leaves seven surviving sons, nearly all grown up. the youngest being about 12. The funeral took place on November 23. A number of settlers paid their last token of respect to the deceased. Mr. Grantham officiated at the grave.—[Own Correspondent.J