Suicide in Gore

Southland Times, Issue 19655, 5 September 1905, Page 2

Suicide in Gore

Recently about 100 valuable ewes belonging to Mr R. McNab, M.H'.R., were stolen from a llock paddocked near the Knapdalc homestead. The matter was placed in the hands of the police, and in the course of their investigations they called last Saturday on Mr John McKenna, a well-known Gore resident, in regard to a certain consignment of sheep made by him last month, and asked for an explanation in reference to tlie transaction. Tho matter had evidently preyed heavily upon Mr McKenna’s mind. He left home at 7 o’clock yesterday morning without taking breakfast, and his family becoming anxious, sought the assittance of the police to ascertain his whereabouts, but no trace was found of him until about a quarter to 1 o’clock, when his daughter obtained tho key of th<\skating rink, of which her father was lessee, and on entering, the unfortunate man’s body was found on the floor, there being a bullet wound in tho right temple and a revolver -by his side, he liaving evidently taken his own life some hours before, the body being cold.

Deceased was an old resident in the Gore district, wlierd he had carried on different kinds of business —stock dealing, butchering, commission agent and, latterly, rink proprietor and billiard saloonkeeper. lie was also for a number of years engaged in mining at Preservation Inlet. He leaves a wife and family and a number of other relatives in the Goro district.

An inquest will be held this afternoon,