Tragedy at Avondale.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 9230, 23 December 1898, Page 1

Tragedy at Avondale.

Auckland, D .-cember 21. A sensation was caused in Avondaln last evening by the disrovnry of the dpad body of Mr John Ilubbick Stych in the cellar of theAvon'laio Hotel, of which h 9 was the license e, Mr Slycli was Inst seen alivo a few minutes before 5 p.m. Ho had been conversing in ono of the parlours with. Me»srs AV. Boylan and Abbott, who had gono out to the hotel fiom Auck* laud to see him; aud after leaving these gentlemen he went out by.one of the back doora. Subsequently the nbueneo wao noted, and his son Arthur, happening to look into the cellar, was boniiiod to see his father lying doad. A double barrellfd shotgun lay along" side the body, with one barrell dis« charg°d. The wound was just below the right ear and examination showed that the muzzle of the gun must have been held close to the head when the shot was fired. A revolver, loaded in each of its six chambers, waß ( diecovered in one oi the pockets of the deceaeed'e coat, while in, the other pooketwas another cartridge for the shot-gun. I)r Girdlor wae summoned by telephone and pronounced death to have been instantaneous,. and Constable. Crean took oharge of the weapons and reported the occuwenoe. to Mr J. Bollard, M.H.E., the district coroner, who arranged for an -inquest, this afternoon. •..■■. ■. The deceased was very popular in the Avondale district and was not supposed a> likely man to commit suicide. -Hβ had •< many friends in Auokland, where for many, years he was employed in Messrs Byoroft ai'd Co.'s mills. As a horticulturist Mr Styohusedto carr.v off prizes year after year at the local Flower Bhowe and was an enthusiastio gardener. He leaves a wife and three sons.