ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT AUCKLAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2922, 7 August 1882, Page 2

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT AUCKLAND.

[By Tblbobayh.j Auckland, August 5. Mr Richard Moore, of North Shore, made a very deliberate attempt to commit suicide this morning by shooting himself twice with a pistol. The perpetrator of the rash act, an elderly man, was well-known in Auckland as a wine and spirit merchant. About 10 or 12 years ago he disposed of bis business to Mr P. Winter, and' took his departure from the colony. After a lengthy absence, he arrived from England about eight months ago, having loft his wife and family in England. Shortly after his return he again commenced business as a wine and spirit merchant, in Fort street, with his second son, bat the partnership was dissolved several days since, and the firm now consists of Wm. Richard Moore and Ernest Townsend, the senior partner having withdrawn. Richard Moore has been residing for sometime in a house at North Shore. He appeared to be in his usual health and spirits this morning, and there was no indication from his demeanor that he had any intention of taking his own life. Between nine and eleven o’clock his housekeeper, Miss Seffooate, was at the rear of th e premises, when she heard the report of a pistol proceeding from a front

roots. She says she was sot: at all alarmed, believing Moore was cleaning out his pistol, as he was sometimes in the habit of doing so. The sound of the shot, however, aroused her fears, and running into her employer’s bedroom she found that he had sh#t himself. The first bullet had struck him on the forehead, and believing it would not prove fatal, he deliberately loaded the weapon again, and shot himself in the pit of the stomach. He did not make any statement, nor was any reason assigned for the rash act. There was no appearance of liquor on Moore and nothing whatever to lead to the assumption he had been drinking. It was apparent that after he fired the second shot ho got into bed without assistance. Dr Parkinson and Dr Lee, who were called in, did not attempt to probe the wounds, as the patient’s low condition would not permit it. He is still conscious, but the doctors entertain no hopes of his recovery. August 6. Moore is still conscious. The doctors state that he may linger for days. The bullet in the abdomen is still undiscovered. Moore made a will yesterday afternoon. He stated that if he recovered he would repeat the attempt. Family troubles are understood to be the cause.