DEATH OF CLERK.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 364, 4 March 1932, Page 3

DEATH OF CLERK.

Found Shot at New ' Brighton Home.

An inquest into the death of Richard Cargeeg:, aged fifty-six years, a retired insurance clerk, who was found shot at his home, 354 Estuary Road, New Brighton, on Tuesday, and died in the Christchurch Hospital on Wednesday morning, was opened before Mr H. P. Lawry, Coroner, last evening. After; evidence had been heard the inquest was adjourned sine die in order that the Coroner might interview Dr A. C. M’Killop, medical superintendent of Sunnyside Mental Hospital. P- H. Wood, house surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital, said that Cargeeg, when admitted, was suffering from a chest wound, caused by a shotgun, and shock. The chief cause of death was shock and haemorrhage. Dr M. S. Wells said that he was called to see Cargeeg, who was lying in scrub on the south Side of his home He was suffering from severe shock and was bleeding profusely from a chest wound. He was conscious but his condition was low. There was a shotgun lying at the feet of the injured man. Ellen Cargeeg said that her husband had retired in 1924 and then was afflicted with eye trouble. He could not sleep and then his nerves gave way. He had been an inmate of the Hornby Reception Home. On Monday she took him from the Home for the day. He was taken out on the Tuesday and reached his home at 3.30 p.m. While they were having tea at a neighbour’s her husband said he wanted to go to his desk and left. Soon after she heard a double report and found him lying among the trees with his gun by his legs. He said he had shot himself for her sake as he could not bear the disgrace of going to the asylum. He said she would have money and a home. He had originally been committed to Sunnyside after trying to throw himself under an electric train at the Christchurch railway station, but she had not heard him threaten to take his life at any other time. Thomas M’Fadden, of 352 Estuary Road, said that he knew Cargeeg had suffered from ill health. Witness found him after the shooting, the gun having apparently bgen fired by Cargeeg pulling with his foot a piece of binder twine attached to the two triggers.