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West Coast Times, Issue 311, 21 September 1866, Page 2

It it with pain (says the "Grey River Argus") that we have to record the occurrence of another violent death, the circumstances connected with which appear to point to suicide. Shortly before eight o'clock yesterday morning, the persons in Johnston's Melbourne Hotel were startled by hearing the discharge of a gun, which appeared to proceed from the large sitting room up stairs. On the roonl being entered, a gentleman named Couche, a lodger in the hotel, was found dead on the floor, and a gun, recently discharged, lying beside him. On an examination being made, it was found that the doceased had been shot through the head, the charge having passed from the mouth through the hinder part of the head, scattering the brains about tho room, and blowing away portions of tho skull. There were no marks or wounds on the face, and it appeared evident that tho muzzlo of tho gun had been placed in his mouth. On a table cloao by, the portion of tho raiurod. ytlugli flfo over the |orew

ramrod was also . detached from the stock". The deceased had got up as usual about seveno'clock and gone down stairs into the bbarr r where he had some conversation with Mr Johnston, and paid him an order for hi» Hotel bill. He then went upstairs, andwai Beon by the housemaid with a gun in his hand, which he said he was going to return to some person from whom he had borrowed it. He passed into the large sitting room, and nothing further is known of his movements up to the time that he was found dead on tho floor. The deceased had for some time been employed as a clerk in the Custom-house, but hod recently left the service with tho intention of going into business. On the preceding evening he appeared in his usual spirits, and had engaged/ to breakfast with a friend on the fatal • morning. Nothing is known of any probable' course of suicide ; but he had- been observed of late to be occasionally in an absent and desponding state, supposed to arise from some losses he had made in pecuniary matters. The inquest takes place at two o'clock this afternoon at the Melbourne Hotel.

In. his report for the week ending Saturday, the 15th instant, the officer in charge of the Old Gaol, Revel! street, states that the number* of hard labor men has been decreased by one — two having been admitted to the gang and three discharged. One prisoner, who had completed his term of simple imprisonment, was also released from bondage. Remaining in custody at the above date were :—ls: — 15 males and 2 females, sentenced to different terms of hard labor at tho Magistrate's Court ; 2 males, simple imprisonment ; and fi on remand. Total, 23 males and' 2 females. Total number of confinees in both Gaols, 58 males and 2 females.