ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10718, 18 November 1924, Page 3

ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH.

All inquest was held at the Dunedin Morgue last Tuesday concerning the death of Josiah Elphinstone, whose body was discovered on Monday evening among some scrub near Cemetery road not far from Mr Tannock’s house, with a bullet wound in the head and a revolver clasped in the right hand. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., sat as Coroner, and Sergeant Boulton represented the police, and Mr John Wilkinson appeared for deceased’s relatives. Herbert Edward Wilson, . public accountant, residing at Hawthorne Avenue, Mornington, said he knew the deceased, who would be about 79 years of age. He was a retired accountant. He was a single man, and resided in 16a Howe street, Dunedin. Witness had known deceased for about 40 years. He last saw deceased three weeks ago. He had no relatives in the Dominion, but there were some in England. Deceased left a will which witness had in his possession. It was made in 1918, with a codicil dated 1921. Dr. Batchelor said he had attended the deceased for the last two years. His health lately had been bad. Witness thought deceased was suffering from cancer of the stomach. He had not at any time exhibited any suicidal tendencies. He was somewhat depressed over his stomach trouble. He last saw him on Saturday morning. He was then quite normal. He said,he was going out for a walk. He was a particularly intelligent man, but was depressed on account of stomach trouble. Margaret Scott deposed that she was the proprietress of Prospect House. She knew deceased, who was frequently an inmate of Prospect House. He was somewhat concerned over his stomach trouble. I Witness last saw deceased about 8.30 on the Bth inst. He said he was going to his home. When he did not return by 7 p.m., witness went to deceased’s home. She there found a note in which he stated he was suffering from a painful illness, and had no hope of recovery. He requested that Messrs William Brown and Co., accountants, be communicated with. She communicated with the police. Sergeant Boulton deposed that about 7 p.m. on Monday, in consequence of a message received, he went to a spot opposite Mr Tannock’s house, on Cemetery road, and there found the body of deceased lying in some scrub. The body was lying face downwards, and the right hand was clasping a .45 calibre revolver. The revolver had been fully loaded, one cartridge being exploded. There was a large wound in the forehead above the right eye. Deceased was the registered owner of the revolver. The Coroner said the note left by the deceased indicated clearly what his intentions were. The verdict would be that deceased shot himself while in a depressed state of mind, due to ill-health.