SELF DESTRUCTION.
NEW ARRIVAL'S END.
[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, December 20.
A. R. McDonald, apparently a recent arrival in the colony, shot himself with a pea rifle in Bathgate's Bush at Mornington this afternoon. A note addressed to the Police Department was found by his side, stating: "A court of enquiry is not necessary. I have shot myself. I have not been feeling very well lately. Late address, Lochtockavaig Isle, Ornsay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Wish to be buried under the flag of my country." Deceased had evidently been a member of the South African constabulary. -Hawera and Normanby Star, 21/12/1906.
DESPONDENCY AND SUICIDE
AN EX-CONTINGENTER'S SAD FATE.
The death under tragic circumstances at Mornington on Thursday evening of Alexander Ronald Macdonald formed the subject of an inquiry at the Morgue on Saturday by the city coroner (Mr C. C. Graham) and a jury of six.
Alexander McPherson, timber merchant, of Roslyn, stated that he first saw deceased on Monday last, when he introduced himself to witness in the latter's office in Moray place. He claimed to be a distant relative on the maternal aide, and witness, after questioning him, came to the conclusion that he was right. He appeared to be in good health, but slightly peculiar. Witness took him out, and they had a cup of tea together, after which deceased went home with him to lunch, staying also to tea. He did not appear to be hard up — in fact, he gave one of the children a shilling to buy lollies with. In the course of conversation deceased gave his age as 27, and stated that he had been in the South African war. He was rather despondent as to his prospects in life.
A letter addressed to Mr George Gordon, Geraldine, South Canterbury, was found on deceased, and this was read by the coroner. "Comrade dear," ran the letter, "I am very sorry to have to tell you that I have shot myself. I do hope you will never arrive at this. I am not afraid to die; not a bit. But I feel very sad. It would be my own wish that it should not be reported in the papers. But I don't suppose I can stop that. I would die happy if I had seen the old home once more. I am sendind my little sister my discharge from the war." He enclosed a sprig of heather and also an order for some photographs taken in Invercargill which he wished sent Home addressed to Miss Mary Macdonald, 73 Goran road, Glasgow, Scotland. A postcription was as follows: — "I do not still believe there is a hell as it is described in the Bible. 1 will say a few words of prayer in real earnest. I will choose a quiet place, so that I can have a good shot at myself, without anybody interfering. Also, I hope it is a man that sees me first. I don't wish to frighten any woman. I will now have a biscuit or two — my last meal — then I will post my discharge and have my last look at Dunedin. ... I will not post this letter, before I ____ in case I might not muster enough courage. The thought of taking other life is as nothing to what it is to take your own."
William John Cox, a boy residing at Glen road, Caversham, said he saw deceased carrying a pea rifle last Thursday evening.
Robert Alexander Bremner, motorman, of Mornington, deposed to finding the body of the deceased lying in Bathgate's Bush, Neidpath road, at 7.25 on Thursday evening. The man was lying on his back, his coat and vest folded under his bead. By his side there lay a pea rifle and a box of cartridges.
Constable Power said the body was not quite cold when he saw it. There was a gunshot wound on the left breast. The shirt and the skin of the body almost directly over the heart had been blackened by gunpowder smoke. The pea rifle contained a recently-discharged cartridge. It was evident from the marks it bore that the cartridge had been struck three times before it exploded. There were a number of letters and papers on the body and £2 in money. A pencilled note on an envelope addressed to the Police Department read as follows: — "A court of inquiry not necessary. I have shot myself. I have not been feeling well lately. I wish to be buried under the flag of my country. — A. R. Macdonald." He gave his address as Tockervaig, Isle of Skye, Scotland.
The Coroner, in summing up, pointed out that it was clear, both from the letters and from the evidence, that the man was evidently in a very despondent condition, and not in his right mind. The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind."
A HIGHLAND FUNERAL.
Yesterday afternoon, the last sad rites were performed in connection with the interment of the late Alexander Ronald Macdonald, whose untimely death at the end of last week cast a gloom over the Highlanders of the city. The Rev. Duncan Maclennan, M.A., minister of Chalmers Presbyterian Church, conducted the funeral services in English at the premises of Mr John Gillies, the undertaker, and in Gaelic at the grave in the Northern Cemetery. It being understood that the deceased was a stranger in a strange land, the Gaelic Society had an office-bearer present at the inquest prepared to take charge of the remains and ensure that all details in connection with their interment should he done decently and in order. It was found that Mr Alexander McPherson, a distant relative of the. deceased, was also present, and he and his brother heartily joined with the society in carrying out the necessary arrangements The funeral was well attended by Highlanders, many of them hailing from the Isle of Skye, to which place the deceased belonged. The young man having in the letter left by him expressed the wish to be buried under the flag of his country; his wish was literally complied with, the coffin being draped with the Union Jack until lowered in the grave. It could be mentioned that the deceased had served in the South African war, and that loyalty to the Empire was a ruling passion even strong in death. There were evident signs of grief among those who followed the remains to their last restingplace in view of the pathetic circumstances of his death. Special prayer was offered for bereaved relatives in the Home Country as yet all unconscious of the sad loss they had sustained. -Otago Daily Times, 24/12/1906.
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