ARCHITECT'S SUICIDE.

NZ Truth, Issue 474, 18 July 1914, Page 5

ARCHITECT'S SUICIDE.

Found Dead m his Office. No Cine to the Cause. Albert Liddy, who has been wellknown m Wellington circles for upwards of twelve months as an architect, was found dead m his office at the rear of the Grand Opera House on Wednesday morning week. There was a bullet wound m the centre of the forehead and a revolver tied to the. right hand. The matter was reported to the police at 10,30 a_m. by Mr. Jas. Hewitt, town traveller for Moncrieff and Young. Hewitt had known Ike deceased for the past twelve months, and it was customary for him to SEE THE DECEASED DAILY. The last time he saw him alive was on Monday night As he did not see him all day Tuesday tie became anxious and telephoned to every place the deceased could possibly be, but without result He became still more anxious 6*h Wednesday morning, and as he was passing the deceased's office he tried the door and found it locked. On getting on to the window sill, Mr. Hewitt looked, through the window and , was shocked to find the deceased lying on the floor of his office, quite still. He immediately informed the police and after bursting open the door they found the deceased quite dead. The body was GRASPING* A BEX-CHAMBERED REVOLVER m his right hand, and two chambers had been discharged. The other' four chambers were fully loaded. ' In his statement to the police Mr, Hewitt said that on Monday night Mr. Liddy and some friends went to the Athletic Park. He did not show any signs of mental depression or worry, and he appeared to be m his usual state of health and good spirits. During his stay m Wellington the late Mr, Liddy had resided at the Terminus Hotel m Courtenay-place. Inquiries showed that he had a wife and either three or four children residing m Melbourne. He was a bro-ther-in-law of the Hon. W. Pitt, ' of the same city, whose representative he has been m New Zealand for some two years past. It has been the custom for Mr. Pitt to visit the Dominion every six , months or so, whilst his theatre designing work has been carried out, and Mr. Liddy was left behind AS SUPERVISING ARCHITECT. He acted In that capacity m connection wi^h the erection of the now Municipal Theatre, at Napier, a now theatre at Dannevirke, and for over a year past m Wellington m connection with the Grand Opera House. The deceased had told some people that he was leaving, for Sydney en route to Melbourne on the following Friday. * The inquiry into the circumstances attending the, death was held at the Wellington Magistrates' Court, before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., on Thursday afternoon last. The evidence given threw little or no light; as to the real reason which prompted deceased to end his life. A % letter . found In the deceased's pocket was produced for the Coroner's perusal, who stated' that it was from the Hon. W. Pitt. It appeared as if deceased had been having TROUBLE WITH SOME BUSINESS MATTERS, and, the letter referred to him as being a bit dilatory m regard to the same. The Coroner's verdict was that the deceased, met his death 'from a bullet wound, self-lnfllctetd, while temporarily insane.