INQUEST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16450, 11 June 1921, Page 9

INQUEST.

RETIRED FARMER’S SUICIDE. An inquest on William John Grand, n retired fanner, aged forty-four, who shot himself at his residence, 258, Fitzgerald Avenue, yesterday morning, was held at the Courthouse, to-day before Mr S. E. McCarthy, District CoroDr W. F. Browne said that about nine o’clock yesterday morning he was called to deceased s residence. He found him lying in the back garden with a bullet wound through the head. Tho ambulance was sent for and Grand, who was unconscious, was removed to the hospital. Dr G. M. Thompson, house surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital, said deceased was admitted suffering from a bullet. wound in tho head, about two inches abovta and behind the right ear. Nothing could bo done for the patient, who sank rapidly and died at 10.30 a.m. Ellen Grand, sister of the deceased, said that at about 8.50 yesterday morning she saw her brother passing through tho kitchen to get food for the fowls. Five minutes later the heard a shot and going to an outhouse she found the door partly open with her brother lying behind it. She/ could

not open tho door, and summoned assistance. Her brother had suffered with gastritis and had also had a nervous breakdown. He bad been very depressed of late. The Coroner returned a verdict that Grand died of a revolver shot in the head, self-inflicted whilst in a state of nervous breakdown.