SEAMAN'S SUICIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17140, 21 April 1919, Page 4

SEAMAN'S SUICIDE.

TRAGEDY IN the STREET.

TURNS REVOLVER ON HIMSELF

EVIDENCE OF A WOMAN.

A man named Oscar Wilhelm Nelson, aged about 35 years, shot himself in the head with a revolver in Napier Street on Saturday evening, death being instantaneous. An inquest was hold at the morgue yesterday before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., who found that the deceased had committed suicide.

A witness, Mrs. Eva Steed, who resides with friends in Napier Street, said that the tragedy occurred just outside the house. She had known Nelson for about ten years. He was a Swede, ha ving been naturalised in New Zealand about twelve years ago. He was a seaman. For some time past he had been depressed, and on two occasions had threatened to commit suicide. She believed that he was attached to her. On Saturday evening, at about, half-past six o'clock, he had come to the house in which she was staying, and asked her to go -out with him. She assented, a.nd they went to a theatre. She noticed during the first part of the performance that Nelson was paying no attention to the pidure. In the interval, when ho went out, she happened to touch his overcoat, which was lying on the seat, and found that there was a revolver ini one of the pockdtfi. She found it to be loaded, and quickly put it in her own pocket. At the conclusion of the ensertainment deceased suggested thai they should walk home, and seemed quite normal and cheerful. .In Wellesley Street, near St. Matthew's Church, Nelson suddenly turned round, and, grasping her by the arm, said in a low voice " You thief!" He then tried to get possession cf the revolver, and, despite witness's resistance, succeeded. Witness then left him, and asked a pedestrian to escort, her safely to her home. As she was entering the residenco. sho heard a click, ana turning saw Ne ] son crouching by the fence, revolver in hand. She ran inside, and then after a few minutes returned and asked him what 'ho wanted. He replied " Come here " in tin unnatural tone. She refused, and deceased walked away from the house. Almost immediately she heard a shot, and with her hostess she rushed out into the street and found Nelson lying face downwards. The police were then informed. Arthur Ruddle, a resident in the house, said that alt about eleven o'clock on Saturday night he heard Mrs Steed say " Come down. Oscar has shot himself." He found deceased lying on the footpath in a pool of blood. Further evidence in corroboration of Mrs. Steed's statements was given by Mrs. E. Strong and Constable T. Marr. The latter produced the revolver, from which one bullet had been fired. One had misfired, which, he said, accounted for the click heard by Mrs. Steed before the occurrence.