SAD SUICIDE A MASTERTON TRAGEDY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10688, 7 September 1920, Page 5

SAD SUICIDE

A MASTERTON TRAGEDY

RETURNED SOLDIER. TAKES HIS LIFE.

, Further particulars are to hand concerning the ciroumstances in which the life of a returned soldier named Peter McPherson, single, andaged 33, was terminated in a tragic? manner in Masterton on Sunday morning (writes the ''Times" special correspondent). The young fellow had served about three years at the war, and returned in- December last suffering- somewhat from shell-shock. He was employed on a farm in the Tauranga district for Some months, and returned home about three months ago, in the hope of securing a section of land. He has since been residing with his mother, brother, and sister in. Pine street, and his chief employment has been in the garden at his home. NERVOUS AN© STRANGE. As the deceased appeared <to be very nervous and strange in his demeanour, his brother Archibald took him to see Dr. Cowie on. September Ist. The doctor found him to bo suffering from delusions, and gave him a sleeping draught, which appeared to do him good. After working in the garden on Saturday last, he retired to rest about 10 o'clock in the evening. He slept in tho same room as'his brother. About 6 o'clock on Saturday morning- Archibald McPherson got up with the intention of going shooting. Hp then noticed that his brother had left his bed. Meanwhile the "mother, who had got up to prepare breakfast for her sons went out to the washhouser and was horrified to find Peter lying on his back on tho floor, with a. rifle by his side. She immediately communicated her discovery to her son Archie, who rang up the police. , ASSISTANCE SENT FOR. ' Sergeant Miller and Dr. Cowie ai rived on tho scene in ,a. few minutes. They found the lifeless body of the deceased lying on ita back, with the head towards the door. A rifle was by its 'side, and there was a pool of blood on the floor. A wound in the breast told its own tale. A razor was, found at the *foet of the deceased, which suggests, that he was undecided - whether to cut his throat or jehroot himself, but had selected the latter means of ending his existence. The body was still warm, - and it ,is supposed that the rash act was committed not more than half an hour before the discovery was made. Mrs McPherson subsequently remembered having heard a report as of a gunshot about 5.30 a.m., but did not suspect J at the-, time that a tragedy had qccur--: r,ed>~ -A freshly discharged • cartridge was found in the rifle. An examination of the deceased's clothing revealed two letters. One was addressed to a lady nurse in the Old Country, and the other read as follows : "Dear Arch. —I must do this part. They're getting to me. I am not quite right in my head. Forgive me. of Lil and Mum, and address letter.—Peter." It is quite evident from this document and other circumstances that the deceased was suffering from a mental derangement. His mother and family will have the synrpathy of the whole community in their tragic bereavement, i