SUICIDES AT GISBORNE AND BLENHEIM.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 763, 15 October 1886, Page 11

SUICIDES AT GISBORNE AND BLENHEIM.

(UNITED press association.) Gisborne, October 7.

An elderly man named John Finlayson, who has been missing for a week, was found drowned in the river this morning. Deceased was well known and highly respectable. He is known to be possessed of considerable means, and has property both here and down South. He is supposed to have committed suicide, as he has been in a despondent state for some time past, and used to live by himself in his house. Three £1 notes were found on a table covered by a billy.

Later.

At the inquest on the man Finlayson, found drowned this morning, the evidence went to show that he was possessed of considerable property, but was of a despondent turn of mind. He had money both in the Bank and in the Savings Bank. He was a Bingle man, very reticent, and lived by himself. He had no friends in the Colony, his relatives living in the vicinity of Glasgow. Blenheim, October 7.

Daniel Wilson, a settler in the Upper Pelorous Valley, and a member of the Road Board, shot himself in the forehead to-day. Later. The Havelock correspondent of the Marlborough Times forwards the following particulars regarding the tragedy in the Pelorous Valley this morning :—Mr Wilson started home from Havelock about $ o’clock last night, arriving at his house about 4.30 this morning. Mrs Wilson being anxious had gone along the road to meet him. He passed her on the way, and soon after his arrival told one of his sons to go after his mother. He called out good-bye to his children who were in bed, and went to the kitchen, where he shot himself. Death must have been instantaneous. The charge entered bis forehead, and shattered the skull and blew the brains all about the room. Decease! was a muchrespected settler and a member of the Pelorouß Road Board. No cause is assigned for the deed.