MOTUEKA FATALITY
THE INQUEST
An inquest was held at the Hospital yesterday morning before Mr E. Davidson, Coroner, on the body of Alfred Cecil Armstrong, hairdresser, of Motueka, who died in the Hospital on Saturday morning from the effects of a bullet wound.
Sergeant Barrett represented the police.
Dr. O'B. Deck said that at 6.45 p.m. on Thursday he was called to see deceased. He found him sitting in a barber's chair bleeding profusely from a wound in his right temple, evidently caused by a revolver bullet. Deceased was quite unconscious, and remained so until next day. A revolver was lying on the floor alongside deceased. The bullet (produced) had been filed at the end, and was sufficient to have caused the wound. Everything pointed to the wound being self-inflicted.
Minnie Mary Armstrong, wife of deceased, said she last saw her husband alive at 6 p.m. on Thursday, when he left home to go out. Deceased then appeared to be depressed in spirits. Witness followed her husband to his shop, which she saw him enter. Witness went to the back window, and on tapping at it for admission she received no answer. Witness, thinking her husband might have gone out by the front door, sat down on the back veranda and waited. Mrs Oliver was with her. After some time she heard a shot fired. Deceased was in the habit of keeping a revolver at the shop, but had never threatened to use it. Witness could not attribute the act to any particular cause.
Christina Maud Oliver, a married woman residing with her husband at Motueka. said that at about 6.40 on Thursday Mrs Armstrong, after obtaining permission, went through witness' shop to reach the back veranda of deceased's shop. Witness' husband soon after called her (witness) to go to Mrs Armstrong, as she appeared to he in trouble. Witness did so, and remained with her until the pistol shot was heard. Witness' husband then broke into deceased's shop and discovered him sitting in a chair with a wound in his head.
Humphrey Oliver, fruiterer, husband of the previous witness, stated that on Thursday evening he was called by his wife to see what had happened in deceased's hairdressing saloon, from which a pistol shot had been heard. On looking through a window he saw deceased in his chair, with blood trickling from his right temple. Witness then went to the front door, which he found locked. He forced it and found deceased as described. The left hand held a cigarette between two fingers. A revolver (produced) was in the right hand. To all appearances deceased was lifeless. Witness knew deceased was worried by monetary matters, and had been unable to meet his engagements.
Dr. Washbourn, Resident Surgeon Nelson Hospital, stated that deceased was admitted to the Hospital about 6 p.m. on Friday, suffering from a wound in the right temple, with fracture of the skull and protrusion of brain substance. Deceased died at 7.45 a.m. next day.
Constable Pidgeon, stationed at Motueka, also gave evidence. He stated that he took charge of deceased's books, etc., and a perusal of the letters showed that he was in financial difficulties, and that proceedings were to be instituted against him. Most of the letters had been received since about October 22 up to the day of the deed. The points of the bullets had been cut off to allow the chamber to revolve. In the early hours of Friday morning he heard deceased mumbling what appeared to be the words, "Bills, bills, bills, and nothing to meet them with."
This was all the evidence.
A verdict was returned that deceased died from the effects of a bullet found in the temple, self-inflicted while temporarily insane, financial troubles being responsible for the deed. -Nelson Evening Mail, 10/11/1913.
IN MEMORIUM.
ARMSTRONG. — In loving memory of Alfred Cecil Armstrong, who died November 8th, 1913, in Nelson.
In the silent grave you are laid at rest, While we remain in sorrow here;
But with God's help we will meet again, The one we miss and loved so dear.
Inserted by his loving mother, sisters, and step-father. -Colonist, 7/11/1914.
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