CONSTABLE'S FATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 12

CONSTABLE'S FATE

FOUND SHOT IN SHANTY LETTER LEFT IN OFFICE [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] ROTORUA. Thursday A verdict that Hugh Malcolm MacPhcrson, aged 54, district constable at To Whaiti, in tho I'rewera country, died from a revolver shot self inflicted during a period of acute mental depression, was returned by the coroner, Mr. W. L. Richards, J.P., to-day, at the conclusion of an inquest following the discovery of the deceased's body in a shanty at To Whaiti e;uly this morning. The evidence of the widow showed that on Wednesday evening the deceased occupied a single bed in the same room as his wife, and then appeared to be quite cheerful; although ho had previously been worrying concerning a throat affliction. At abput six o'clock this morning the deceased dressed and spent some time in his office. He was noticed by bis wife to place something in his pocket. Some time later she discovered a note in her husband's writing on a desk in the office, which read: "Ring up the police in Rotorua. They will find my body at the shanty past the billiard saloon." Accompanied by the deceaseds nephew, Mrs. MacPherson went to the shanty, and the nephew found hi:; uncle's body with a revolver near bv. John Alexander Carter, a missionary at To Whaiti, stateil that on Monday last ho had accompanied tho deceased to Hamilton to interview a doctor, but after their return MacPherson had stated that he was not satisfied. with tho result of the interview. For some time ho had been obsessed with the idea that he was suffering from chronic throat trouble and he was also worrying concerning a truck which ho had recently purchased, while lately liis memory seemed to ho impaired. Senior-Sergeant E. J. Carroll, officer in charge of the Rotorua. police district, stated that MacPherson had proved himself a good police officer, although he had not enjoyed the best of health. Witness had examined the whare and found that the deceased had apparently wrenched a lock from the door entered the building, and shot himself.