SUICIDES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11303, 22 December 1898, Page 6

SUICIDES.

(Per United Press Association.) ~--•,- AUCKLAND, December 211 . , With regard to the suicide oi J. R. Stych. licensee ot the Avondale Hotel, it appears that Stych was last seen abflut 5 p.m. yesterday when he proceeded outside by one of the. back, doors. On search being made afterwards he was found dead in the cellar, with a gunshot wound in the head and a gun- ' beside - him, also a five-chamber revolver. At the inquest, John Abbott,' ■financier, said he had a private interview 'at the hotel with deceased. Witness told Stych a bill foi £125, purporting' to be signed by Clr.rk, of Onelranga, bearing deceased's.endorsement, had that day 'been .presented at the National Bank, Onelranga, 1 by witness's son and was found to be "a forgery. - Witness said steps' must be taken to have-the matter cleared up. Stych gave no,answer, and soenied dazed and dejected, and went outside the hotel, when shortly afterwards.witness heard a faint explosion, and Stych presently* was found dead. In reply to the coroner witness said when he stated the bill was found to be a forgery he-meant the bill was returned-unpaid and marked in the comer "signature unlike." • J.'Boylan,"agent, sakl he had an interview with Stych in the .dterno'on on financial matters. Ifc was interrupted by the appeirance of Abbott on the scene, and he left the room. Deceased was in a financial difficulty with witness, but he had not threatened to'deal hardly with him. The coroner, in summing up, commented on Abbott's evidence regarding the bill for £125, and said there was nothing in the evidence, to show the bill was a forgery, and be said so in justice to the memory of deceased. Tha jury returned .a verdict that the deceased committed suicide while suffering from temporary .insanity, caused by financial difficulties.' ■ Stych leaves a .widow and thiee ' NEW'PLYMOUTH, December 21. ■ A middle-aged woman, Mrs Finn, attempted suicide this morning by cutting her throat with a butcher's knife. She was removed to the hospital, where the wound was ißwh up. It is hoped to save her life.