SUICIDE BY SHOOTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1162, 1 November 1917, Page 5

SUICIDE BY SHOOTING.

» —— INQUEST ON LENNON. The inquest on the body of Alfred Richard Lennon was held at the hospital before the Coroner, Mr T. A. 1 13. Bailey, yesterday afternoon. Several letters left by the deccas- ; ed for his relatives and friends ■ were handed to the coroner. Cuthhert Strachey Harper, man- ' ager for Messrs Thos. Borthwick ; and Sons, Chrislchureh, gave cvi- ' dence of identification. Witness said ■ that deceased was accountant at the 1 firm's branch at Waitara, and had been in Chrislchureh for three weeks. Deceased did not enjoy good health; he suffered a good deal from headaches, and took rather a despondent view of everything. During the last week his work had not been entirely satisfactory. There was no reason to believe that there was any irregularity in his accounts. ! The firm never questioned his honesty, and there was still every reason to believe that he was per--1 fectly honest. The deceased was ! about 60 years of age, and married. His wife resided at New Plymouth. Robert Torrance Annand, bookkeeper for the firm, said that be saw deceased last at 11.45 on Tuesday in the office, when he was writing letters. He told witness that after writing a few letters he intended going home. Deceased said that he often worked until 1 a.m. at his own . home. ' Sarah Bowman, caretaker of the 5 firm's offices, said that she arrived . at the office with her daughter at about 7.30 a.m. She went into the room the deceased used, where she found him lying dead. Sergt. J. R. Mcßae said thai there was a bullet wound in the right temple, and a small revolver was clenched in deceased's left hand. The letters were found on the desk, there being seven altogether. Some were addressed to members of the firm, and the others to deceased's 5 family. The Coroner returned a verdict ; that deceased committed suicide ' while in a state of unsound mind.