MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.
Considerable sensation was caused in the town this morning by the news that Mr John Webster, third sou of Mr Malcolm Webster, who resides in Toi Toi Valley, had committed suicide. On making enquiries we learn that a little after five o'clock this morning the deceased's sisters called their brother and brother-in-law, Mr R. Pattie. who was staying in the house, to look for "Jack," whom they had heard leave the house some time previously. They at once rose and commenced to make search, and after they had been thus occupied for a few minutes, Miss Webster ran out with a piece of paper which she had found in the deceased's room, on which were the words, "When this is found I shall be no more." After examining all the outbuildings and the surrounding premises, the searchers proceeded to an unoccupied cottage standing at a little distance, and just as they reached it the report of a rifle was heard from inside, immediately followed by a groan. On entering they found the young man dead, shot through the heart. The deceased was as fine a young fellow as was to be found in the town, a very general favourite, and deservedly so. About twelve months ago he met with a nasty fall in which he received a severe blow on the back of his head, and ever since then he has suffered from temporary fits of depression, and it is supposed that he was under the influence of one of these when he committed the fatal deed. Great sympathy is felt with his family in their trouble, and there are to-day many genuine mourners among his contemporaries for poor young Jack Webster. An inquest is being held this afternoon at the Postboy Hotel. -Nelson Evening Mail, 27/10/1980.
SAD END TO A PROMISING LIFE
Some ten months ago Mr John Wallace Webster, a son of Mr M. M. Webster, of Trafalgar street and Toi-Toi Valley, a young man fond of athletiC sports, and who was a general favorite, met with an accident by which his head was hurt, and from that time forth he was been more or less subject to fits of depression, though just lately he appeared to be improving. Yesterday morning it became known that he had shot himself, and a general feeling of grief was experienced, for he was well liked, while sympathy for his sorrowing parents and more immediate connections was kindled. The deceased had suffered a good deal, and his state of health had become a subject of much concern in his home, a fact which his morbid thoughts dwelt upon, and it seems be dreaded being a burden on those he loved. As to the actual circumstances attending the unhappy ending of a young life, which was, a short time back, so full of promise, these were stated at the
INQUEST, held at the Post Boy Hotel yesterday afternoon, before Mr O. Curtis, Coroner, and a Jury composed of the following gentlemen: — Messrs B S. Chisholm (foreman), W. Moyes, G. Morton, W. G. Kerr, B. Kirkby, and O. Bout.
Constable Barry was in attendance, and called the witnesses, who gave evidence as follows: —
Grace Webster deposed: The deceased John Wallace Webster, was my brother. I saw him this morning at a quarter-past five passing by my bedroom. He did not speak to me. About three-quarters of an hour afterwards I went to look for him being afraid and not being able to hear him. He went outside and did not return. I was alarmed, because he had been ailing some time. I went outside the house, but could not see him. I then called my brother and my brother-in-law, Mr Pattie, who were sleeping in the house. They went in search of the deceased. While they were searching I found a letter in his bedroom. It was in his handwriting. (Letter produced but not read.) He stated in the letter that he was unhappy, and a burden to all. I was more alarmed, and went out and told my brother and brother-in-law. I never saw my brother alive again, but was told he was dead.
By the Coroner: I did not hear the sound of a gun or pistol going off.
Robert Pattie deposed: I am brother-in-law of the deceased, and slept in the same house with him. I saw him retire last night about half-past ten. He appeared rather low and depressed, but I took no notice, he having been ailing for some time. I found him in that condition when I arrived at the house. This morning I had got up and had gone into Ernest Webster's room when Miss Grace Webster came and called us to say that her brother had been away from the house about three-quarters of an hour and she could not find him. This ocourred about six o'clock. Ernest and I immediately went in search of him. We searched the plantation up on the hill and some of the outhouses when Ernest said we have not looked in the empty cottage, let us go there. Just as I got to the corner of the cottage I heard the crack of a rifle and someone inside gave a long groan. I said to Ernest you had better ride for a doctor as he must have shot himself, and I ran inside. I said that just as I was opening the door. I went inside and found him partly sitting in one of the back rooms. His head was lying on his chest, and there was a bullet wound in the region of the heart. The rifle, which had recently been discharged, was lying across his legs. I lifted up his head and shoulders, but there was no sign of life. I took him to be quite dead. There was not much blood, only a little oozing from the wound. His brother had gone for the doctor.
Wm. James Mackay deposed: I am a duly qualified medical practitioner residing in Nelson. I knew the deceased, whom I attended last December when he was suffering from acute inflammation of both ears, and there were strong symptoms of the inflamation having extended to the brain or its membranes, and this would be likely to affect the mind. He had a prolonged and tedious illness then but got better. I attended him again in April and May last. He was then suffering from profound sleeplessness with recurring mental depression - sometimes better, sometimes worse. The mental depression and sleeplessness I attributed to the injury the brain sustained during the former illness — if not wholly caused by it, it was certainly muoh aggravated by it. I have not attended him since last May till I was called out a little after six this morning. On arriving at the place I found him lying on the floor in a back room of an empty cottage close to Mr Webster's residence — dead. There was a bullet wound penetrating the chest in the immediate region of the heart. I saw a rifle beside him. His shirts were singed. The wound could have been self-inflicted, and apparently was so. There was a stain on his trousers as from the rifle falling, down on being discharged. There was a smell in the room as of a recent rifle discharge, and the body was then quite warm. When I last saw him I did not consider the mental depression as the result of worry, but rather as the result of disease. The bullet wound caused death.
Constable Barry said that Mr Ernest Webster was present, bat could only corroborate the evidence of his brother-in-law, and therefore he did not propose to call him, unless it was the desire of the jury.
The Jury considered it needless to call the witness.
The Coroner then briefly summed up. He said that he thought they would have no difficulty in coming to a conclusion. There was no doubt as to the cause of death, which they were told was caused by a wound from a rifle bullet, self-inflicted. They should have no difficulty in coming to a conclusion that deceased shot himself, but then came the question as to his state of health. Many medical men held that suicide itself was proof that the mind was unsound, but he need not go into that, for the medioal testimony was clear that the brain was affected, and that sufficiently accounted for the suicide. If they agreed in that view, the only verdict they could return was that deceased died from a gunshot wound inflicted by himself while in a state of temporary insanity.
The Jury at once said that they agreed with the Coroner, and returned a verdict in the words he had used. -Colonist, 28/10/1890.
Sorrow and Sympathy. — General sorrow was experienced yesterday morning, when it became known that Mr Ernest Webster, who only some eight or ten days ago appeared to be in the enjoyment of all the strength of early manhood had been stricken by the hand of death, and deep sympathy for Mr and Mrs M. M. Webster and his relations is widespread. The deceased, who was most amiable in disposition, and a very picture of health and strength, was a universal favorite. -Colonist, 30/5/1893.
The funeral of the late Mr Ernest Webster took place yesterday afternoon and was largely attended. Among those who took part in the Procession were His Worship the Mayor and the members and officers of the City Council. The service was conducted by the Rev W. A. Evans who came over from Wellington for the purpose. -Nelson Evening Mail, 31/5/1893.
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