SAD CASE OF SUICIDE.
At about half-past 8 a.m. on the 18th ult. Mr William Bell Bridger, of the firm of Thomson, Bridger, and Co., ironmongers, of Princes street, committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver at his residence, Caversham Rise. The deceased, it appears, got up at 7 o'clock, and about an hour and a-half later his wife, hearing the report of firearms at the back of the house, proceeded to the spot from whence the sound appeared to come, and found the deceased lying in an outhouse in a pool of blood, with a wound on the left aide of his head and a revolver near at hand. Dr Brown was at once sent for, and on arriving at the deceased's residence he dressed the wound, but the deceased died shortly afterwards. The revolver with which the deceased had shot himself contained five chambers, four of which were loaded with ball cartridge when the weapon was discovered, the fifth one having apparently been recently discharged. The deceased had been suffering from insomnia, and for the last 12 months had not been in the enjoyment of good | health. He, however, was receiving medical attention from Dr Brown, under whose treatment he seemed to be gradually recovering; and although he frequently complained of a pain in his head, his friends were under the impression that he was making satisfactory progress. On Thursday it was noticed that he seemed more cheerful than usual as he went to business, and when he got up at 7 o'clock yesterday morning he appeared to be in his usual condition. He had been advised some little time prior to his death to take a holiday for the benefit of his health, and had made arrangements to leave Dunedin for England next week. He was 45 years of age at the time of his death, and had been in the colony over 20 years. Some years ago he occupied a position in the firm of Guthrie and Larnach, and shortly after their large premises in Princes street were destroyed by fire, he joined Mr Thomson in business. He leaves, besides his wife, a family of five children.
THE INQUEST.
An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of William Bell Bridger was held on the 19th ult. at the residence of the deceased, Caversham Rise, before Mr Coroner Carew and six jurymen, of whom Mr Julius Silverstone was chosen foreman.
Plesance Bridger, wife of the deceased, said that her husband was born at Winchester, and had been 31 years in the colony. Until about a year ago he never had a day's illness; since then he had suffered from headaches, and lately from a pain in the head. He was troubled for want of sleep. Some weeks he did not sleep at all. During the past few days he had been a little better. For a long time Dr Brown had attended him. Witness dated his illness from the time he was attacked by some persons during a snowstorm. His head was then knocked about. Two or three days afterwards his face was black and blue, though it was not his face, but the back of his head, that was struck. He could not say who it was that hit him. He slept on Thursday night, waking up before the earthquake, when he complained of a pain in his head. He made no complaint on Friday morning. Witness hearing the report as of a gun ran out to the yard, and there saw her husband lying on his back, bleeding from the head, a revolver by his left hand. He was left-handed. Deceased was very much depressed at times, but it never occurred to witness that he would think of taking his life. He was somewhat depressed about the late arrival of the boat by which he was to travel, as he believed he would be better when he got to sea. Witness did not know that he had a revolver in the house.
Dr Brown said that deceased consulted him in January last, but had not been under his care for the past month or six weeks. His chief complaint was of sleeplessness. Witness made a thorough examination. With the exception of the brain and nervous symptoms from which he suffered every organ was perfectly healthy. The symptoms from which he suffered were so alarming that witness advised a long holiday. As the responsibility of giving this opinion was a heavy one, witness recommended that another medical man should be consulted, and suggested Dr Alexander. He was not aware whether that recommendation was followed. Deceased took a short trip to Australia, returning in March, when, though he had improved, there were indications of mental disturbance. Witness strongly urged a long sea voyage and rest. Deceased was sane, but much depressed. About a month ago, being rung up by him on a matter of business, witness remonstrated with him for not taking that advice. It was on account of the possibility of his condition leading to something of the sort that had now happened, or loss of reason — a general breakdown — that witness was so urgent about getting him away for a holiday. Being called on Friday morning, witness found deceased bleeding from a wound in the head, which caused death about half an hour later.
The Foreman desired to know whether the doctor thought that the snowstorm incident had any bearing on the deceased's condition. Witness stated that the affair was never mentioned to him, but what deceased complained of might have been caused or accelerated by rough treatment of the head. Witness had no hesitation in giving the opinion that deceased was of unsound mind when he took his life.
Maggie Paton, in the employ of Mrs Bridger, said that deceased went to the kitchen for hot water shortly after he arose on Friday. She noticed nothing unusual about him.
James Cox Thomson, partner in the business firm of which deceased was a member, said that deceased had not lately worried himself particularly about business matters. He said more than once that his illness dated from August last. It was in August that he complained of being roughly treated by snowballers and knocked down. He was a man of active temperament, but seemed to lose that to a great extent, showing a tendency to dwell upon trifles, though lately he was apparently better. The revolver produced was apparently one from a parcel opened up at the warehouse since last Saturday. The date of sailing of the vessel by which he was to leave, the Morayshire, had been put off, witness believed, three or four times.
To the Jury: Witness knew of nothing to cause extra depression at the eleventh hour.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased died from a wound self-inflicted while he was temporarily insane. -Otago Daily Times, 12/6/1894.
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