SUICIDE OF AN EX-M.H.R.

Otago Witness, Issue 1856, 17 June 1887, Page 10

SUICIDE OF AN EX-M.H.R.

g > Auckland, June 9. Frederick Alex. Whitaker, formerly member for Waipa, committed suicide this evening at at about half-past 5 o'clock in the Auckland. Club. He shot himself through the head with a revolver in the board room. He has been in « despondent state for several days. Later particulars show that a man named Chapman was walking through the passage, when he heard a pistol shot in the board room, and looking through an opening saw that some, one had fired. He immediately gave the alarm and ran into the room, accompanied by Jones, & waiter. Mr Whitaker was alone in the room and he had evidently sat down in a chair, leaned forward on the table, arid placed the pistol to his head. The bullet had penetrated the upper part of tho forehead, going partially through the brain, cracking the bone of the skull at the back; but it did not emerge. Dr Hooper was at once summoned, whilst Dr Haines was also soon in* attendance, but no msdical aid could of course be of avail, though Mr Whitaker was not dead when dig. covered. He sank rapidly, and died about 40 minutes after firing the shot, without having uttered a word or recognised his brothers, who were present. For some time past the deceased had been in a despondent state over pecuniar/ troubles. He had recently entered into speculations which had not turned out well, and some of those who saw him lately noticed that he appeared absent and wandering, and talked inconsequently. The pistol with which -the deed was committed is a six-chambered revolver, and was fully loaded. Mr Whitaker leaves a widow (a daughter of Mr Alfred Cox, of Waikato) and three children. The news of the suicide hai caused a profound sensation.