FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14014, 20 September 1909, Page 3

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

Per Press Association. CHRISTOHLKCH, Sept. 10. An inquest touching the death of . ■ Samuel Whaler Burkitt, a retired publican, was held to-day. Mrs. Burkitt, widow of the deceased, stated that she last saw him afire about 10.30 o'clock on Thursday morning. He was then tearing the house, ana said that he was going for a stroll. A» far as witness knew he did not take a revolver with him, but be possessed a revolver which was not now in the drawer that it was usually kept in, and she had boon unable to find it. Her husband . bought it about three or four years ago when he waa. licensee of the Eastern Hotel. He had got it, witness understood, for the purposes of self-defence. Hor husband appeared to be a bit upset after the receipt of a summons from Dunedin., He .did not seem as usual. That was the first time she had noticed anything unusual, as her husbund had «lw«j» paid. h|s way. She had asked lum when he got the first summons if he could pay the money, and urged him, to do so. He bad replied that bis current account had run out. He could p»y the amount, but she understood that his money was tied up. It was the first trouble that, she knew vthat ' he had Had in respect to any money matter of any sort. Subsequently she had asked deceased if he had made the . moftty Matter all right with Donaldson, aail he had replied in the affirmative. ' {taring- liie 'past eighteen months her husband had not confided hiß financial , matters to her. so that she might not be 'worried. Witness knew of no other trouble that would We led her husband to take his life. A. verdict was ' given that deceased committed suicide, .and- that his mi^d appeared to have been unhinged owing to financial difficulties.