TRAGIC SUICIDE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 29

TRAGIC SUICIDE.

MR ROBERT J-. S. TODD SHOOTS HIMSELF.

A tragic suicide occurred at a private boarding-house on Thorndon quay on December 6, when Mr Robert John Stewart Todd, well known as accountant of the Government Insurance Department, committed suicide by blowing out his brains with a shot gun. The deceased, who had not been out of the house all the morning, went into the bathroom about a quarter to 1 o’clock, after which he went into his own room and laid down on the bed with only a towel round his loins. Just at 1 o’clock Mr R. G. Thomas, until lately De-puty-Registrar of the Supreme Court, who boarded at the same establishment, heard the explosion of a gun upstairs, and went up to see what was the matter. When he entered Mr Todd’s bedroom a fearful sight presented itself. The unfortunate young man was lying on the bed, with a big hole blown in the skull, the brains and blood being scattered all over the room and even on the ceiling. The gun, an ordinary double-barrelled breechloader, contained one full cartridge aad

one which had evidently just been discharged. The weapon had been placed between his legs, and the right arm was extended down towards the trigger, while the left hand held the gun a little below the muzzle. The charge had entered the head on the left side of the nose, and blown away the whole of the left side of the skull.

Mr Thomas at once 'telephoned for Inspector Pender, who, on arrival, found to his great surprise that despite the fearful injuries deceased had inflicted on himself he was still breathing. Dr James, who was then telephoned for, came almost immediately, but the unfortunate man had expired exactly 25 minutes after the shot was fired.

Deceased, who was about 33 years of age and a native of Belfast, came out to New Zealand with his parents in 1880 in the same boat by which Mr Morris Fox, Actuary of the Government Insurance Department, was a passenger. He shortly afterwards entered the Government Insurance Department, in which during the past six years he has carried out the duties of accountant in a most satisfactory manner. He was unmarried, but was engaged to be married to a lady in Victoria, and having obtained six weeks’ leave of absence, had booked his passage by the Talune, which left for Sydney shortly after he committed suicide. That his financial affairs were in a satisfactory condition is shown by the fact that on Wednesday he drew some cheques on the Colonial Bank and paid some accounts, but he had been drinking heavily of late, and it is conjectured that that had unhinged his mind. His brother, Mr Henry Todd, blew out his brains at Blueskin, Otago, last Easter.

The adjourned enquiry was held before Mr Ashcroft, Coroner, and a jury, of' which Mr J. Dealy was foreman, in the Magistrate’s Court on December 8.

Bees Goring Thomas, until lately Deputy-Begistrar of the Supreme Court, described the circumstances of the suicide, as already reported. On Thursday morning he seemed to be in a dazed condition. A telephone message, which witness received, came to deceased during the morning that he was to call at the Government Insurance Offices before leaving Wellington. When informed of the message deceased replied “ All right.” To Inspector Pender : When his brother took his life last Easter deceased seemed very much affected by it. Deceased had not been himself for the past month. Deceased had always seemed to witness to be a man easily led. He had told witness he was going to Australia to see the lady he was engaged, to. The Coroner said he had read a letter from the young lady referred to. It contained nothing but the ordinary young lady’s chit-chat, and concluded by expressing a hope that they would meet soon. Dr James also gave evidence.

Inspector Pender stated that there was no reason to suppose he was in any difficulty; and although be drank occasionally he was not what could be called a drunkard. He was very excitable. There was no money found on him nor in the room, but there was a cheque book showing that he had drawn several cheques that week. “An empty purse was found in the room.

George Charles Summerell, brother-in-law of the deceased, said he last saw him on Wednesday afternoon about 4 o’clock. He was then in good health and spirits, and said he intended to have a good time in Australia. He said his finances were all right, and that by the time he returned to New Zealand they would be very satisfactory. He was certain deceased’s engagement was not broken off; in fact, he was going to Australia to see his JiancSe. Since his brother’s death he had not been the same man as before. As far as he knew there was absolutely no insanityin the family. The gun which deceased shot himself with belonged to Mr Morris Fox, but had been in his possession for some time. -

Robert Campbell Niven, clerk in the Government Insurance Department, Wellington, said deceased was not irritable—in fact, he was quite the reverse. As far as the department was concerned deceased’s finances were quite correct. He saw deceased at his house on Thursday morning between 11.30 and 12 o’clock. He had gone to deceased with a message from the secretary that he was to be sure and call on the secretary before he left by the steamer to discuss some matters which they had been speaking of the day previously. There was nothing in the message likely to excite him, and he said he would do as requested. William B. Hudson, Secretai*y of the Government Insurance Department, said the matter he wished to discuss with the deceased was merely the furnishing of a monthly report, and need not have given him any concern. His accounts were quite correct; he did not handle the cash. The jury returned a verdict of suicide during temporary insanity. The remains of the deceased were interred in the Karori Cemetery on Saturday morning. The funeral left the residence of Mr G. C. Summerell, Majoribanks street, about 9 . o’clock, and, despite the short notice, there was a large number of mourners present, amongst whom, besides the immediate relatives of the deceased, were many officers of the Government Insurance Department. The first carriage contained Messrs J. H. Richardson (Commissioner), D. M. Luckie (Assistant Commissioner), W. B. Hudson (Secretary) and Mr Morris Fox (Actuary), and in the second were Mr Leslie (Assistant Actuary) and other officers of the department. The Rev T. H. Sprott officiated at the grave.

A horse attached to a milk-cart belonging to Mr Bodley bolted on Sunday morning from Wellington terrace along Boulcott Street, whilst the driver was serving a

customer. The horse had not proceeded far in its course when it fell, and the cart was capsized, the milk cans, some vessels containing - cream, and a quantity of butter being pitched on to the roadway. Some of the vessels were broken, and the butter was spoilt. The shaft of the cart was broken, and the vehicle otherwise damaged. The horse, however, escaped with a few scratches.

While Constables Murphy and Price were walking near the Railway Wharf about 12 o’clock on Saturday (Dec. 8), they heard a splash near the wool jetty, and immediately ran towards the spot, Murphy throwing off his coat, belt, &c., in readiness for a swim if necessary. On arriving there they saw a hat floating in the harbour, and almost immediately afterwards a man’s head appeared above the water. He informed them that he was able to swim, and Murphy went down to the stringers, and with Price’s assistance got the man, who gave his name as McDonald, on to the wharf. Beyond a wetting he had sustained no injury. A startling occurrence is reported from the Akura. During the thunderstorm there on Sattu - day two Maori boys—one a son of Moses and the other of Malachi, so the narrative goes—were looking through the window of a Native hut when a flash of lightning struck them both. The leg of one boy was severely burned and the other was discoloured. The lightning smashed the interior of the building and did considerable damage. The inmates of the hut were naturally very much alai-med.

A woman, whose name was subsequently ascertained to be Annie Williams, went into the Royal Hotel on Monday evening and sat down in the telephone room. She almost immediately exhibited symptoms of being very ill, and Mr Ross, the licensee, at once sent for Dr Grace. The woman, however, refused to say what was the matter with her—in fact, she never spoke at all, and at Dr Grace’s suggestion Mr Ross obtained a cab and had her conveyed to the Hospital. Captain Babot, Marine Superintendent for the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, received a telegram on Monday morning from the captain of the ship Akaroa, Napier, stating that while the vessel was getting under weigh on Sunday morning to sail for Home she fouled the New Zealand Shipping Company’s ship Waitangi, loading at the same port for London. Subsequently another message was received Stating that the damage to the Akaroa, which was only slight, was expected to be repaired on Monday, and that the vessel would be able to sail next morning. When the Dingadee was going into Napier last Saturday the tide canted her head on to a bank, where she remained for nearly 12 hours.' Owing to the mishap the vessel is to be put on the patent slip for her half-yearly inspection, the projected trip to Westport being abandoned. A young man named James Garroiek, whilst bush-felling at Birmingham, had his shoulder-blade broken by a limb of a tree falling on him. On the Queen’s Wharf on Tuesday afternoon, a man named Lawrence Gosling, it is stated, made an insulting remark to another man named T. Thomas, when the latter struck him and knocked him down. Gosling’s head struck against the stringer running round the deck of the wharf, the result being that he was rendered unconscious. Constable Johnston had him conveyed to his home in an express, but as he got worse Dr Fell was sent f or, and by his advice the man was removed to the Hospital. The man is suffering from concussion of the brain, and his condition is considered serious.

A horse attached to Mr M. Fitzgerald's mail cart bolted from near the Government Railway Station about 3 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, and in his career towards Sydney street the shaft of the vehicle ran into a horse driven by a man named Hayes, and inflicted a deep cut on the off shoulder. The wound was stitched up by Mr Michie, veterinary surgeon, but the poor animal is severely injured, and it will probably take some months before the wound is healed. The runaway continued its course along Sydney street, but just as it passed Mr Lane’s stables a man named J. Follas, in Mr Lane’s employ, rushed out, and, jumping on to the cart from the back, got hold of the reins and managed to quickly bring the frightened animal to a standstill. The action was a plucky one, and deserves recognition. Napier, December 6. A young woman named Tyne, wife of a carter at the Spit, has died suddenly after an operation under chloroform. Napier, December 7. An inquest was held this morning on the body of Mrs Patrick Tyne, who died suddenly whilst undergoing an operation under chloroform for the arrest of haemorrhage performed by Drs Moore, Cleg-

horn and Thomson. The medical evidence showed that the operation was necessary if the patient’s health was to be restored, and it was completely and carefully performed. A verdict was returned that death was due to syncope, and entirely exoneiiating the doctors.

A man named George Marsh, aged 40, and single, was killed whilst quarrying on the Bluff Hill this morning. He fell 100 ft, bringing a quantity of earth down and partially buried in the debris. An examination showed that Marsh broke his neck in the fall.

Auckland, December 7. Mr Hawthorne, magazine - keeper at Mount Eden, has been found shot Avith abullet through his head. At the inquest, a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was returned.

Dr Robertson, who gave evidence, stated he regarded deceased as having been perfectly sane, and the Coroner, Dr Philson, protested against the verdictj saying that it was not in accordance with the evidence. Auckland, December 7. A miner named Barrett has been killed in the Talisman claim, Karangahape. A girl named E. Riddick, two yeai-s old, has been found drowned on the Kohimarama beach, 200 yards from her home. The wife of James Moore, aged 28, was drowned while bathing in a creek at Miranda. She leaves three children.

Auckland, December 10. A fire occurred at 3.30 this morning in the premises in Queen street, occupied by the local agents for Wrigglesworth and Binns, _ photographers. The . building, which is of brick, two stories, was gutted. The origin of the fire is unknown. The photographic stock was insured for >£3oo in the Norwich Union office. The building is owned by W. Eastdown, and is insured for =£looo in the Commercial Union. Mr Eden George has an interest in the building. The'premises of Miss Ann West, milliner, adjoining, were damaged. They are insured for ,£IOO in the Royal office. During the voyage of the schooner Fleetwing, from Norfolk Island, the cook, C. Hansen, a Norwegian, was lost off Norfolk Island.

He fell overboard in a lurch of the vessel.

Robert Redman, a sailor, aged 20, belonging to the brigantine Defiance, was drowned while bathing at Te Kopuru. Auckland, December 11.

Thomas Edward Walton, clerk in the' Auckland Racing Club’s office, was thrown last night from a young horse. he was riding, and fractured his skull. He died this morning. Invercargill, December 10. William McFarlane, while working - in a gravel pit at Stoney Creek, was buried by a slip. He was extricated and brought to the Invercargill Hospital, but died from his injuries. A quantity of wreckage—consisting of American pine, the topmast of a large ship and topgallant yard, a piece of a spanker boom, and part of a capstan—-has been washed ashore at Preservation Inlet. The wreckage has evidently not been long in the water. It is feared that a ship has been lost with all hands. Dunedin, December 10. It is feared here that the wreckage found at Preservation Inlet is that of the barque Firth of Forth, which sailed from New York for Dunedin and Lyttelton on August 11. Two men named Thomas Rundell and James Coles were drowned near the mouth of the Waiau river at noon to-day by the capsizing of a boat in which they were fishing for flounders. Rundell leaves a wife and six children in Invercargill. Coles was single, and a sawmill hand residing at Colac Bay. Christchurch, December 10. The wife of Mr S. Manning, ex-Mayor, died somewhat suddenly on Saturday afternoon. At the inquest on the body of Charles Taylor, the second victim of the St. Asaph street fire, held on Saturday, a verdict was returned that deceased was accidentally burned while under the influence of liquor.