SUICIDE AT SOUTH DUNEDIN.
A man named Robert Ingram Stewart, aged twenty-one, residing with his parents at 75 Oxford street, South Dunedin, committed suicide at his home some time late last night or early this morning. He was last seen alive about eleven o'clock last night, when he was with his brother in the kitchen. Early this morning his body was discovered lying on its back in the yard, fully dressed, with a bullet wound above the right ear and a loaded sixchambered revolver, one chamber discharged, lying between his legs. Deceased had been employed as a striker at Reid and Gray's foundry until three months ago, since when he had been out of work. He suffered from severe mental depression, and had been under the treatment of Dr Macpherson for about a year. Deceased left a letter to his parents and members of the family in which he said: "Extremely sorry, but could not help it. Was overcome with depression. You have done all you can for me." An inquest on the body is proceeding as we go to press. -Evening Star, 9/1/1907.
INQUEST.
An inquest was conducted yesterday afternoon, by the coroner (Mr C. C. Graham, S.M.) on the body of Robert Ingram Stewart, who shot himself the night previous at his parents' residence, 75 Oxford street, South Dunedin.
Dr McPherson deposed that he had been attending deceased for some time for mental depression, and he was not surprised at what had happened, as deceased was in a fair way to becoming a melancholic. Deceased complained that he was unable to take any interest in his work or anything else. On his advice deceased went into the country for a change in October last, returning after three weeks. In November he attended deceased for an attack of influenza, which aggravated the depression. He would not go so far as to say that he thought deceased was of unsound mind at the time of death.
Henry Manning Stewart, deceased's father, said deceased had left his employment on account of the state of his health, Though physically strong, he suffered from great depression of spirits. He had once previously threatened to do away with himself just before going away to the country, showing his mother — who was advising him to look after himself — a revolver and saying that if she said any mere to him he would blow his brains out. Witness last saw deceased alive at about eight o'clock on Tuesday night, when he seemed in his usual condition.
Charles Bradlaugh Stewart, brother of deceased, said that deceased and he usually occupied the same bed. Deceased had once previously said to him: "I think I can get to Australia, and if that doesn't cure me I think I will cure myself some other way." Witness construed that to mean that unless he got better he would do away with himself. Witness knew that deceased had a revolver, and on discovering that his brother suffered from a mental disorder advised him to throw it away. Deceased subsequently said he had done so. On Tuesday night witness left his brother in the kitchen at about 10.45, and went to bed, deceased stating that he wished to write to a friend in Central Otago. At about 4.30 next morning be discovered that his I brother had not come to bed. He found the light burning in the kitchen, and saw deceased's body in the yard outside. He informed his parents, and then notified the police.
Constable Dark, stationed at South Dunedin, gave evidence as to the notification of the police and the examination of the body. He stated that Mr and Mrs Jenkins, neighbors of the Stewarts, heard a shot at 11.15 p-m. on Tuesday, but did not pay much attention to it.
The jury returned a verdict of suicide by shooting while in a temporary state of insanity produced by despondency. -Evening Star, 10/1/1907.
Robert Stewart lies in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.
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