William Charles Lockhart, 1914-28/7/1931. "one of the finest lads"

 

YOUTH FOUND SHOT

BRIGHT AND UNTROUBLED 

“If the case is one of suicide, it is altogether inexplicable, as the lad was bright, apparently untroubled, and highly thought of by his employer,” remarked the coroner (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) at the inquest last night on William Charles Lockhart, who was found dead in the morning with part of his head blown away, in the garage at the rear of the premises of his employer (Mr G. Booth), who gave evidence that the lad was one of the finest boys he had ever had working for him. 

Deceased’s father, Charles Lockhart, gave evidence of identification. So far as he knew, his son was in no trouble of any kind. He last saw the deceased alive about 4.45 o’clock that morning, when he appeared to be in good health and spirits. 

George Booth, a dairyman, residing at 73 Oxford street, South Dunedin, stated that the deceased had been in his employ for about four months. He last saw the deceased on Sunday about 8.30 a.m. His usual hour for starting was about 4.30 a.m. Witness had seen the body of the deceased in his garage, and the gun which was shown him by the police was his property. He had found the deceased to be one of the finest lads he had ever had working for him. He could assign no reason for the deceased’s wishing to take his own life, and so far as he know the lad was not troubled by anything. The gun was generally kept in a shed at the rear of witness’s residence.

Mrs Booth stated that she had last seen the deceased alive about 2 p.m. on Monday. She had received a complaint from a customer that morning (Tuesday) that his milk had not been delivered, and on going to ask the deceased about it she had found him lying dead in the garage. She did not see a gun near him. Witness had always found the deceased very honest and straightforward, and he had never made any complaint to her. 

Sergeant McEntee said that in response to a message received about 8.20 a.m. that morning he visited Mr Booth's residence, and found the deceased lying in a motor garage at the bottom of the section. He was lying on his back, and at his left side witness found a double-barrelled shotgun, one barrel of which had been discharged. From the position of the deceased it appeared as if he had placed the butt of the gun against a joist and the muzzle against his forehead, and had with a small rod which witness found beside the gun pressed the trigger. The top of the head down to the eyes was completely blown away. The stock of the gun was broken, apparently by the concussion. It did not appear to witness that the gun had gone off accidentally whilst the deceased was examining it. 

The Coroner said that if the case was one of suicide, it was altogether inexplicable, as the lad was bright, apparently untroubled, and highly thought of by his employer. It was possible that having come across the gun he had out of boyish curiosity taken it to the garage to examine it, and whilst he was doing so it had accidentally discharged. There was no justification for finding that death was other than accidental, and the verdict would therefore be that death was due to a gunshot wound, but that the evidence was not sufficient to show whether the gun was discharged accidentally or otherwise.  -Evening Star, 29/7/1931.

Deaths

LOCKHART. — On July 28th, 1931, at Dunedin, William Charles, eldest son of Charles and Gertrude Lockhart; aged 17 years. Deeply mourned. Private interment. — O. J. Thorn Ltd., undertakers.   -Evening Star, 28/7/1931.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.