CASUALTIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10508, 9 February 1920, Page 4

CASUALTIES

A LABOURER’S SUICIDE THE CORONIAL INQUIRY. An inquest concerning the death of Alfred Croxton Fitchett, who shot himself with a pca-riflo at his residence in Nairn street last Thursday night, was conducted by Mr AY. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday. The following evidence was tendered: —

Edith Maud Eitchett, wife of the deceased, residing at 46, Nairn street, deposed that he' was a labourer, and was born at Brooklyn, 41 years ago. Deceased was addicted to liquor, but did not drink to excess. Ho retired to bed on February sth at nine o'clock, and was then the worse for liquor. AVitness wont to bed at 0.15 p.m. and deceased asked witness to go to his room and she refused. Deceased said: “If yon don’t come in I’ll blow ray brains out.” Ho had often used that threat, hut witness did not take any noticq, of him. Ho never said those words when he was sober. She had lately been sleeping apart from deceased as she had been in bad health for some lime. About 11.45 p.m. she hoard the report of a gun and exclaimed: “I believe Alf has shot himself,” and on going into his room found deceased bleeding from the head. He was unconscious. Deceased bad been in bad health for many years, and always complained of a pain in his head. Dr. Robertson, house surgeon at the' AA'ellington Hospital, said that the deceased was admitted at la.m. on February 6th, and was bleeding Irom a wound in the head. There was evidence of a severe laceration of the brain. Deceased died about 3.45 a.m., (from shock, due to laceration of the bra in. Constable Hunt, of Mount Cook station, stated that at midnight on February sth ho was called to 46, Nairn street, and found deceased lying on the hed undressed in an unconscious condition. Ho removed him to the AA’ellington Hospital. A verdict was returned that the deceased died from a bullet wound in the forehead, Sblf -1116:0106. WHILST A BATH. PER PRESS ASSOCIAT.-OS. AUCKLAND, February 8. A boy named Charles Douglas Coles, aged two and a. half years, residing at Alt. Albert, while 'having a hath was accidentally scalded about the feet and died,, presumably, from shock. The inquest was adjourned.