THE PORT ROAD TRAGEDY.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13082, 17 April 1911, Page 2

THE PORT ROAD TRAGEDY.

THE ADJOURNED INQUEST. ■ The inquest on tlio body of Frank • Gaiger, who was picked up in an « f l «>.ise,ous condition on the? Port roacl [ "o2» m', StlaVllgll^ »«d taken to tho . rio.fpital, where he died on Friday , morning, wa.s resumed on Saturday , morning at the Court House before Mr 1 "(;„«; Lvans' S- M V Coroner. Sergeant ' See aPPeaie °n bohalf °^ th* indicate the wound m the mouth. The post mortem disclosed a wound in tho hard palate, and the bullet had aken the left eye It was very unlikely that i^Jt'didffSl-Sd' 1 ton f" VV™ un«>nßciou 8 c\,ndi- . twn. J-hs first impression was that ! deceased had been assaulted. Ho id P what he could for him and waited un- ' f'w "le?" e °?" 10 a,Io"S » fe«' minutes later, whom lie asked to go for the police. Deceased never spoke George Sutherland, licensee'of tlio Globe Hotel, stated that deceased had been staying with him for a fortnight. He saw deceased about 10.30 o'clock on ; ihureday inght. Deceased was perfectly sober He had had four or hve small "shandygaffs" during tlio evening, and finished a game of bil- [ hards at 9,45. Abo-ut 10.30 deceased j went upstairs on to the balcony. Ho (id not notice anything peculiar about - deceased that evening, but on previous > occasions deceased had been despondi cnt lor as many as three days at a ' time hardly eating anything and not ■ speaking to anyone. He last noticed i him m this condition about Christmas » time. Deceased's expressions had led i. witness to believe that ho mifht do i away with himself at any time. Doeeas- '■ ed had carried a revolver for three - years, and had it in his possession on [ Ihursday night. Deceased produced the revolver on Thursday ni"ht and - remarked that it would be an awkward • *!""'■ *S I}lllnp "!' a«llillst ; or words to ■ that effect. There was a discussion ■ going on about revolvers when it was ) produced. He knew of no reason why - deceased should take his life. Deccasi ed had told him that his real name was not Gaiger. Deceased had mentioned 1 relatives at Home, with whom there t was trouble, but had given him no pari tictilars regarding them. t . Violet Sutherland, wife of the pro- , nous witness, stated that deceased L told her on Tuesday night, about 10 30 . that he was going for a walk, , 4 nd she , did not see him after. On several ocv ca-sirwis deceased had told her that ho . was 2i years of age. Victor Lancy, a labourer, who knew [ and occupied the same room as decoas- . Ed at the Globe Hotel, said he last saw . deceased at 10.30 on Thursday ni«-hfc with him in the evening and deceased " f^y 10! . In<*«*atio« that he intended . to take his hie. Ho had never noticed , £ig»s of despondency on tho deceased , During a discussion on firearms in tho > I^lver ' "' ceasod l»'od«ccd tho re- : Michael Coughlan, a labourer on the , railway hue who had known deceased . for 18 mouths, stated that l,e spoko to deceased on the balcony of tho >te after 10 o'clock on Thursday ■,+ f.l "? xt " <locc:l««l coma out of the railway station gates and , proceed „, the direction of the port. He denied that he bad stated that ho Rniv deceased descend from the balcony ny tho verandah post. Sergeant Mullany said witness stated to him several times that he saw deceased got over the balcony -fho_ witness was cloudy "examined on tins point, and admitted deceased disappeared very quickly from tlio balcony, but domed that he saw him get-«»-or. He had said that decease,] must have got over the balcony as he disappeared so quickly. 1,, the presence of the Sergeant a man named Turner had told him to be careful what he said n ™nStap° "C!!'thclscn stated that at 11.30 on Ihursday n,gb t> , vhen , 10 va in the railway yards, he saw a man go out ol the yards in the direction or the port. rJhe man stopped at tho junctioi, of the cycle track and foot- " ,(lllls ™* a* tho spot where deceased ivss found aitenvwl.O Ho watched the man for a few seconds and then proceeded on his bent When !„, tho intersection of Hardy street aftonr ai!"°. a S. trCet, a fc"' milllltfla aitoi wards ho hoard a report like tho bursting of a bicycle tyro. When o Kot to tho Trafalgar Hotel corner I him' "a™<L/?>'V lillicenfc reported to him at 11.00 that a man was Iving on the Port road with blood on his face. Witness then corroborated the evitS" °" Frida *' h > C™taHo The Coroner said it was quite clear that deceased died from tho effects of a revolver shot self inflicted, and there was nothing to show the condition of deceased's mind at the time. A verl diet was returned accordingly.