MAN FOUND SHOT

Southland Times, Issue 20524, 28 June 1928, Page 7

MAN FOUND SHOT

TRAGEDY AT OTAMA SUICIDE WHILE MENTALLY DEPRESSED EMPLOYEE ON FARM On returning to his home about 7 o’clock on Tuesday evening Mr Andrew Tytler, a farmer of Otama Valley, found his employee, Edward Moar, dead in his room with a pea-rifle between his legs and a bullet wound in his forehead above the left eye. Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held before the District Coroner, Mr A. Martin, Justice of the Peace, when further particulars were made available. Andrew Tytler stated that Moar was a single man 28 years of age, and commenced to work for him as ploughman on April 23 and was still in his employ at the time of his death. Moar had appeared to he in good spirits recently, but was a little peculiar in his manner. Witness had not at any time heard him suggest taking his own life. On Tuesday he saw and spoke to Moar about 1 p.m. Moar then seemed to be in normal spirits, but did not take any lunch. He ascertained later that he had also not taken any tea. Witness was working on an adjoining farm and saw Moar take the horses m about 4 p.m. On arriving home at 7 p.m. he saw that the horses had not been fed and the house was in darkness. On going into the front bedroom he found Moar lying in a pool of blood with a rifle between his knees. An examination disclosed that life was extinct. Witness then communicated with the police. Constable Sughrue stated that from information he received he proceeded to Otama Valley on Tuesday evening and accompanied Mr Tytler to his residence. On going into the front bedroom he saw Moar lying face downward with a rifle clasped between his knees. On examining the body he found a bullet wound in the forehead about an inch above the left eyebrow. There were no other marks of violence. The rifle contained one spent bullet in the breach and four cartridges in the magazine. The rifle was registered at Waikaia in Moar’s name on April 17. In October, 1925, Moar was committed to the Seacliff Mental Asylum, but was released seven or eight months ago. Witness had spoken to him several time/ since then and apart from a peculiarity of manner he seemed quite rational.

The Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide while in a state of mental depression.