SUICIDE IN DUNEDIN.
(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)
DUNEDIN, January 14.
A man whose name is unknown committed suicide at the Sussex Hotel this afternoon by shooting himself in the forehead with a pea rifle. No one heard the report, and the man was quite dead when found. Deceased, who was about 27 years of age, above middle height, stated that he had come from Clinton. There was no clue to his identity among his effects. -Press, 15/1/1903.
INQUEST.
Mr C. C. Graham, S.M., held on inquest yesterday afternoon on the body of an unknown man, who committed suicide in the Sussex Hotel on Wednesday. Mr H. Spiers acted as foreman of the jury.
John George Green, licensee of the Sussex Hotel, deposed that the deceased come to the house on Monday, the 12th, at 7.30 p.m. He engaged a bedroom for the night, and left his overcoat in the room, but went out shortly after. He did net return till Tuesday night, when he came into the bar and asked for a drink. Witness recognised him, and said, "You're the man who asked for a room last night?" He said, "Oh, yes; but I met some friends, and didn't come back." Deceased then asked if he could have some tea, and witness showed him into the dining room, where he got something to eat. Witness saw him again next day. He was perfectly sober any time witness saw him, and only had two drinks in the house — one on Monday and one on Tuesday. He did not look like a man who drank. He seemed quite sane and sensible. Witness did not ask his name or where he came from. A little after 5 on Wednesday afternoon witness first heard about the affair, and found the billiard-marker in the room, who told him the man was dead. The body was in a stooping position, with the barrel of a pea rifle projecting from under the bed, between deceased's legs. Nobody in the house appeared to have heard the report of the rifle. Witness never saw him bring the rifle in. A flask of whisky was found on him, but he did not procure it in the house; they did not keep that brand.
Catherine Adelaide McBride, barmaid at the Sussex Hotel, gave evidence that she saw deceased come into the hotel on Tuesday morning. He had a drink at the bar, and said he had stayed with friends on the previous night. He came in again about dinner time, and had another drink, and this was the last time witness saw him alive. He told her that he came from Clinton. She thought he was a little peculiar in his manner.
James Pollands, boots, deposed that he was leaning against the door of deceased's room about 3.30 on Wednesday, when it opened. He saw deceased, and turned to the housemaid, who was in the passage at the time, and said, "This man must be drunk or something." He closed the door and went-downstairs. Witness did not go back till about a quarter to 6, when he happened to be upstairs, and opened the door again to tell deceased to go down to tea. He saw deceased was in the same position. As he stooped down to rouse him he saw the gun and some blood. Witness got excited when he saw the blood, and came down for Mr Green.
To Mr Hally: The housemaid was in the passage when witness first went in, and she must have seen deceased. Witness did not think deceased could have been cleaning the gun, but would not like to say.
David Fernie, salesman for Laidlaw and Gray, said he recognised the rifle produced, having sold it to deceased on Tuesday night. He came in between 5 and 6 o'clock, and after looking at the rifle bought it, along with a box of cartridges. It did not strike witness that there was anything peculiar about the man. He smelt of drink when he came in, but was perfectly sober. He did not state what he wanted the rifle for.
Detective Livingstone described the position in which he found the body. He examined it, and found no other marks on it besides the gunshot wound in his forehead. He failed to find anything to indicate the identity of the man. The box of cartridges produced was in his coat pocket. The other things found on him were a flask of whisky, 9s 6d in cash, and a pair of glasses.
Sergeant Higgins stated that a Berwick resident named Shennon had identified the man as George McIndoe, a farmer at Wairuna.
The Jury brought in n verdict of death from a gunshot wound; self-inflicted, but that there was not sufficient evidence to show whether it was intentional or accidental. -Otago Daily Times, 16/1/1903.
George McIndoe lies in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.
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