SUICIDE IN DUNEDIN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8664, 28 December 1889, Page 4

SUICIDE IN DUNEDIN.

INQUEST ON THE BODY,

At the inquest on the body of Mr G. 11. Ashcroft, Mr Edgar Ashcvoft gave evidence of the deceased being his brother. He was a married man. and left a wife and three children. Mr A. Grant, District Traffic Manager, said he had found the following letter in his desk this morning : — " Dunedin 19th December, 1889.— Memo, for the District Traflic Manager. — Dear Sir, — 1 hereby tender my resignation as a servant of the Railway Commissioners. I shall be glad also if you will kindly advise tli3 Commissioners that I claim compensation from 22nd January, 1877, to February of the present year. — I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, Geo. H. Ashcroft.'' He had never spoken about resigning. Witness was afraid there were some discrepancies in his books. He said the private business was mining matters, Avhich he had got put right. George Esther deposed that he knew deceased intimately. He went by appointment to the Grand Hotel at 6 o'clock last evening. Deceased said he was in serious financial trouble and wanted to ask witness how to get out of it. He owed witness a large sum of money and asked if he was prepared to wait. Witness replied that he was. He told witness that he had been suffering terribly in his head the last few days, and if the pain continued lie should almost go mad. He put his hand up to his brow, and said, " My God, Esther if this continues I feel certain that I shall go mad."' Witness asked him if he was in immediate trouble. He said, "Speculations in mining shares," and witnessed uttered a few words of comfort. He told witned he was certain to make himself safe as he went along. Deceased was looking depressed within the last fortnight, and he heard a rumor that he was mixed up with another gentleman in mining losses. About a week ago witness spoke to him at the station. He told him he had got into some trouble through some }■ wtnership in shares. About £400 was the amount mentioned, but lie said that in a little time the shares would be worth the money, and they must wait (meaning the parties to whom the money was due), but he scarcely knew how he stocd. It was not his own business, he had been drawn into it by others in mining matters, but if they got time he had no doubt they should pull through. Witness could see through the day that lie was depressed, but trying to hold up. They parted at 6.10. The jury were then left alone, and after consideration returnee! a verdict that the deceased d ; ed from the effects of a pistol shot fired by himself, and that there are circumstances which lead the jury to conclude that his mind for the time being was oft its balance.

Mr George H. Ashcroft was the eldest son of Mr George Ashcroft, who was for several years manager of the WellingtonWairarapa Railway, and who was afterwards removed to Nelson. Mr G. H. Ashcroft was about 35 years of age and entered the railway sen-ice some 15 years ago, passing creditably through successive stages until he became relieving stationmaster. Several years ago he was promoted from this to the stationmastership in Dunedin, in which capacity he Imb given complete satisfaction to the department and the public. He was a sober, steady man, and always evinced a great interest in church matters. A few years ago he married a Nelson lady, and ho leaves her a widow with three or four young children. His suicido is a most painful surprise to all who know his family. His uncle, Mr James Ashcroft, formerly editor of the Otago Dui'y Times, is now the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy for the Otago District.