BANKER’S DEATH.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 303, 22 December 1931, Page 5

BANKER’S DEATH.

“ Was Worried, and had Lost Confidence.” INQUEST AT TE AROHA. (Special to the ■" Star.") AUCKLAND, December 22. At the inquest concerning the death of Auguste Ernest Bouillon, the bank manager who was found dead at Te Aroha, Dr Gordon Cook said that when he was called he found the body with a revolver in the right hand, four cartridges out of live fired, and a wound in the region of the heart. lie considered death was through haemorrhage of the heart, caused by an expanding bullet. Death had . occurred from twelve to fqurteen hours previously. F. L. Renrick, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Te Aroha, said that he had known deceased since 1897. He arrived at Te Aroha during the previous week to relieve witness. He said he was not feeling well and was worried through suffering from insomnia. He appeared to have lost confidence in himself. On Monday he complained about not feeling well, and witness sent for a doctor. While he was away for the mail, Mr Bouillon left the bank and later a search was made along the river banks, the body being discovered at seven o’clock the following morning. Donald Meredith, chemist, stated he had known Mr Bouillon seven or eight years. lie found him a muchchanged man, as previously he was of a bright and cheerful disposition. On the previous Friday deceased brought in a prescription for a nerve sedative. He was very depressed and his mental condition was not good. Wilfred Douglas Blyth, bank teller, identified the bank revolver. The following verdict was returned: —“ That Auguste Ernest Bouillon committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver on December 14 while temporarily of unsound mind. The verdict is supported by the evidence of Dr Cook that this form of insomnia would produce an unbalanced mind and thereb}' cause the sufferer to take his life.”