SEQUEL TO A QUARREL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 36

SEQUEL TO A QUARREL.

TRAGEDY IN' INVERCARGILL. YOUNG MAN SHOOTS HIMSELF. Apparently as the result of an emotional excitement reached in a quarrel with a gin supposed to be h;s sweetheart, which took place in a house in Esk street, Invercargill, on Sunday afternoon, a young man named John Cook, aged 23. committed suicide bv shooting himself. Iho .acta as stated by the police (says the Southland Times) are that Cook was _ft friend of a man named FV'.uenck James Moss, and both were employees o. (ho Government Railway V. orkshops. -'I-) 1 ', 13 occupied a cottage which fronts on to street, above the Zcalandia Hall, and t.to deceased lived in a house at the rear _ot it, and reached hi.s homo by means ot a narrow right-of-way winch ran down tuo side of Moss's house. About 3 oc.ock on Sunday afternoon Moss saw Cook with a young ladv, with whom he was supposed to have been keeping company, and another girl, a friend of Cook’s sweetheart, talking together in front of his house. I hey wme evidently quarrelling, anti in order to avoid a scene in the street Moss asked them to come inside and have it out. Ims they agreed to do. and when they were m-uie Moss left them. , , , . , Shortly afterwards Cook left the house and went over to his own place, returning to Moss’s place at once He had on v returned a few minutes when rue two girls rushed out screaming: ‘‘He has shot mmMoss went into the house and found Cook Iving across a bicycle with a bu.lct wound in the right temple. A revolver lay on the floor at his foot. , , Dr Pottimrer was fcaetdy summoned, and ho ordered the removal of deceased to die hospital. , Cook lived only a short time afm: admission to the institution, and piu-.sev, away about 6 p.ra. INVERCARGILL. July 28. An inquest concerning the death of Cook was held to-day by the coroner (Mr G. Cruickshank. S.M.h From the evidence adduced it appears that Cook had been on friendly terms with two girk named Irene Turner and Lott.v Cosgrove. Ho met them on Sunday afternoon at the house of Frederick Junes Moss There was a discussion as to winch gin Cook preferred, and as Cosgrove in. or rued Tumor that site loved Cook, she (Turnei) told the man to go to the girl who Joyed liirn. Cook, however, declared lus preference for Miss Turner, anti tried put his arm round her and kiss her. Sue wa\ ed him off, and Cook then told her. It e you or no one.” and produced a vetobei an.i pointed it at her. Turner grabbed txith ins hands and pushed the revolver away. 11" threatened to “do for” her, hut she said that she would come back to him. Cook then said that it was too late, and putting tho revolver to his head, he fired and fell. Lengthy evidence was given in corroboration of this account, and a verdict was returned that the deceased committed suicide >hilo of unsound mind-