INQUEST AT METHVEN
DEATH OF EX-SERVICEMAN.
VERDICT OF SUICIDE RETURNED
An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Gilbert Alexander Stewart was held at Methven before Mr J. Cow, District Coroner, yesterday afternoon.
Alexander Gumming Stewart, blackssmith, gave evidence that he a brother of deceased. The deceased, who was 28 years of age, had been staying at home for the last two or three days, but had been working at Mount Somers. He last saw him alive on Sunday night at 10 o’clock. There had then been no signs of drink about him. He could not account for deceased’s taking his life, and he had made no statement in that connection to him. The gun produced belonged to witness. It was the one with which the deed had been done. When he saw him the deceased had just come from Mount Somers. He was given to drinking, but witness was quite sure he showed no signs of drink when he came to witness’ whare. He had taken the gun from above the bed in the whare, and the cartridges were in a little drawer. The latter must have been taken by the deceased when witness was asleep.
Frank Frederick Kirby, baker, Methven, stated that as he was on his way to work about 5.15 on Monday morning he found the body of the deceased outside the Canterbury Hotel, half on the footpath and half on the road. The body was lying on its back, a gun being between the legs and a bootlace was attached to the gun. The deceased was then quite dead. He had known him well, and had been talking to him on the previous morning. He had then noticed nothing peculiar about him. There was nothing in his manner that led him to think that he would commit suicide. The deceased had been away to the war, but he thought he had suffered no disability thereby.
James McTaggart, licensee of the Canterbury Hotel at Methven, said that he knew the deceased, and last saw him on the previous night about 10 o’clock in the hall of the hotel. There was then no one else with him. Deceased said he had come in to see whether there was a man named McGill there. Witness asked him where he had been, and received the reply that he had come from Mount Somers. Deceased had asked, “Where was Scotty” or “Get me Scotty” (Scotty being McGill), and witness had found McGill for him. He had then asked McGill whether he had got a job for him on Ross’ mill. McGill told him he was going to see Ross, and McGill added that he had no job for him. The deceased then left the hotel. He had taken no gun with him. In his opinion deceased was sober. In answer to a question by the Coroner, said the deceased had asked for no drink, nor was he served with drink. Continuing, witness said he was in bed about 11.30, when be heard a noise like a bottle breaking. This sound seemed to come from where the tragedy occurred.
Constable A. Orchard gave evidence as to having removed the body to the hotel. He described the gun. On Thursday the deceased appeared as if he had been drinking. Since his war experience the deceased had indulged in drinking.
The Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased had committed suicide by shooting himself with a shotgun. -Ashburton Guardian, 21/1/1922.
Gilbert Stewart's Army record - and such records often have things to say which were not known by a soldier's family - shows an admission to hospital for influenza in 1917 as his only sickness or injury. What prompted returned soldier Gilbert Stewart to end his life may never be known. He was one of many men who, for one reason or another, could not face life after the war.
Methven Cemetery.
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