A BODY IDENTIFIED.
DUNEDIN, Dec. 27. Investigations show practically beyond doubt that the body found near the Northern Cemetery yesterday is that of Charles Jarman, who was a clerk in the Government Shipping Office and who disappeared on December 3. A handkerchief found on the body has the initials C.B.J., and the body corresponds exactly with that of Jarman so far as height, etc., are concerned. When Jarman was last seen he was walking in the direction of the Northern Cemetery. Some writing found in the pockets has been identified as that of the missing man. An inquest on the body was opened this morning before the above particulars were ascertained, but it was adjourned. -Mataura Ensign, 28/12/1912.
INQUEST AT DUNEDIN.
THE DEAD BODY FOUND IN THE BUSH.
IDENTIFIED AS CHARLES JARMAN.
[Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, December 38.
An inquest was held this afternoon, before Mr Graham (Coroner), on a body (supposed to be that of Charles B. Jarman) found dead in the bush near the Northern Cemetery on Thursday. Dr Gordon Macdonald said the body was that of a man about 5ft 7in in height and about forty years old. In the man’s pocket he found a new razor, which had not been used. He also found a bank receipt from the Union Bank, with a name like Jarman on it. In the shirt, in the region of the heart, he found a small hole, and in the singlet and in the skin there was a corresponding hole. He would say that the man died from a bullet wound.
Captain Beaumont. said C. B. Jarman was a clerk in his office for about five years. Witness last saw him on the evening of December 2. Jarman knew witness had received a letter stating that the books were to be overhauled. Jarman said everything was in order, and witness had no doubt about the matter. Jarman did not come to the office next morning, and on the books being examined it was found there was a deficiency of £62. It was very difficult to state the exact amount of the deficiency without a complete audit of the books. Witness identified the writing on the letter found on the body as that or Jarman.
The Coroner said there was no doubt in his mind that the body was that of Jarman, and a verdict was returned that the cause of death was a gunshot wound self-inflicted while the deceased was in a state of insanity. -Lyttelton Times, 31/12/1912.
CHARLES JARMAN'S DEATH
At the inquest held yesterday afternoon on the body of the man found in the bush near the Northern Cemetery, the evidence showed plainly that it was that of Charles B. Jarman, who disappeared on December 3.
Patrick Gunn Pryde, late secretary of the Education Board; residing in Clyde street, said that he knew deceased intimately. Witness saw him passing his place at about 10 o'clock on either Monday or Tuesday, the 2nd or the 3rd of December. Witness was -working in his garden, and called out "Good morning," but Jarman did not answer. Of course he might not have heard witness call out. He was going in the direction of the Cemetery road. He was carrying something, but witness could not say whether it was a stick, an umbrella, or what it was. He was walking with his head down.
Detective Ward said that he knew Jarman well for the past four years. He had been endeavoring to locate him since the 5th of December, and knowing that there was some trouble in sight for him, and that he was a sensitive little fellow, he told his near relatives that he believed he would destroy himself. Witness was also familiar with his hand-writing. The bank deposit slip found on the body bore Jarman's signature. The letter produced was also in his hand-writing, and, with the exception of one or two words, witness could clearly decipher it. The letter was addressed to Jarman's wife.
Constable Rutherford, who removed the body from the bush, said that there was a handkerchief on the body with the name C. B. Jarman written on it. There was a rifle lying alongside the remains. It was a new rifle, and there was a discharged cartridge in the barrel.
The Coroner said that from the documents found there could be no doubt that the body was that of Charles B. Jarman, and from the fact of the rifle being found by his side and from the evidence given by the doctor there could be no doubt that the cause of death was a. gunshot wound, self-inflicted. The only question was as to the state of mind deceased was in at the time of his death. He had been a man of steady habits, and bore an excellent character. Some discrepancy had been discovered in the books, and the mere fact of knowing that was apt to upset a man's mind, especially as he was, as Detective Ward had described Jarman to be, a very sensitive man. He (Mr Graham) thought he could only come to the conclusion that Jarman's mind was upset by the charge, rightly or wrongly made against him. The verdict would therefore be that death was caused by a gunshot wound, self inflicted, while deceased was in a state of insanity. -Evening Star, 31/12/1912.
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