STANDISH HILL SUICIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 214, 3 September 1908, Page 4

STANDISH HILL SUICIDE.

THE CORONER'S INQUEST. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the" deatii of Edmund Jardint, was held at the courtnouse yesterday afternoon before ■ Air H. S. Fitzherbcrl, Coroner, and a jury composed of Messrs F. C. J. Bellringcr (foreman), C. M. Lepper, J, Skinner, S. Ruadle, A. E. Sykes, and H. J.Lewis. Sergeant Haddrell represented the police, and Mr Quilliain watched proceedings on behalf of the relatives and friends of the deceased. Tudor Boddam, detective, stationed at New Plymouth, deposed that at about five o'clock on Tuesday evening, the deceased had come to witness' office in company with Mr Johnstone, Solicitor, of New Plymouth. Witness read out the two charges whieih were then pending against deceased, who made no reply. The deceased remained sitting in the office for about half an hour talking ou general topics. At 5.30 p.m.. acting on the instructions of Sergeant Haddrell, deceased was admitted to bail, to appear in the S. M. Court next morning. Jardine appeared much distressed in mind, and said he had heard of the impending charges an hour before. Deceased reft the oflice with Mr Johnston and Mr C. Gray, the bondsman. There was nothing to suggest necessity for taking extra care of deceased.

A. H. Johnstone stated he believed the deceased was about 52 years of age. fie had lived in the same house with deceased for some time. They walked home together the previous evening after the arrest and bail. Deceased appeared very much distressed. He saw jardine about a quarter to eight o'clock, but there was nothing in his demeanour to lead witness to anticipate what subsequently happened. About 11.90 pm. witness returned home.went to deceased's room, and found him sitting at his table fully dressed. Witness stayed there, conversing with deceased for about twenty minutes, endeavoring to cheer up the deceased and advising him! to go to bed. He replied, "I'll take your advice," and shortly afterwards witness left the room, going to his own room adjoining. About a quarter past twelve o'clock he heard a shot and a tall. Ran to deceased's room, and found him lying on the floor. There was on the floor a considerable amount of blood, which had flowed from a hole in his right temple. Sent immediately for Dr. McDiarmid. Deceased was breathing quite regularly at first. Witness advised the police upon being told that the case was hopeless. Witness had not known that deceased had a revolver, and had never previously seen the one produced. To Mr, Quilliam: Deceased was a man of culture and refinement, and a good classical scholar. He communicated to deceased the fact that a criminal charge was to be preferred against him. So far as witness could judge, that was the first deceased had known of it, and it threw him almost into a collapse. Witness, in his professional capacity. had an interview with him concerning his defence.

To the Coroner: Deceased had not gone to bed. He was fully dressed when found lying shot.

Somerset W. Smith, clerk in the Public Trust Office, who had lived in the same house with the deceased, said he had seen the latter at dinner on Tuesday evening, and noticed nothing unusual in his manner, except that he was more silent than was his wont. Witness retired to his room about 11.50 p.m., and was reading when he hea.-'l the sound of a shot. In a few moments, when it dawned on him that Jardine had shot himself, he jumped out of bed and went to deceased's room, where he found deceased lying in his room. Johnstone preceded him. He had no knowledge that deceased or anyone else ;'n the house had a revolver.

Dr. J. B. MacUiarmid gave evidence tliat when he reached the house he fouiul deceased lying on lifs face with his right arm doubled beneath him and his left stretched out. He was breathing, but unconscious. There was a bulletwound in his right temple, bleeding freely. Turning him over, he found a revolver (produced) in deceased's right hand. He could see the case was hopeless. Death occurred ten or fifteen minutes after witness' arrival. Witness picked up the revolver, and found one empty cartridge-case in it. The bullet passed through the head and out by the left temple. He had no doubt that the bullet-wound was self-inflicted and the cause of death. The exit wound was higher than the entrance wound, and the bullet struck a picture above the bed.

To Mr. Quilliam: He had been introduced to llr. Jardine once. He would say that the preferment of a criminal charge against him migiht have produced temporary mental aberration. To the foreman: The deceased mado no remark. He was incapable of that after receiving such a wound. Constable White-house gave evidence that he went to deceased's residence, about 1 o'clock in the morning. He could find no written communication from deceased or any more cartridges. There was nothing to indicate any premeditation upon the part of the deceased. * His Worship said this was a very simple matter for the jury to decide. There was no suggestion of foul play, but the evidence went to show that the deceased had become despondent as the result of a criminal charge preferred against him, and had committed suiciic whilst in that frame of mind. The jury returned a verdict, that the deceased met his death by a wound selfinflicted whilst in a state of acute mental depression, causing temporary insanity.

In the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning Sergeant Haddrell mentioned the death of Mr. Jardinc, who was to have that morning answered a police charge. In the circumstances Mr. Fit!herbert, S.M., did not estreat the bail, and the deposit was returned to the bondsman.