Charles Eustace Constable, (21/10/1874-29/1/1899). "with his toes"

Invercargill, January 31. 

Information has reached town that a young man named Constable, staying as a friend at Helder and Awdry's Redcliff station, 64 miles from Otautau had committed suicide. He was well connected at Home.  -Marlborough Express, 1/2/1899.

A young man named Constable, said to be a grandson of the celebrated painter, committed suicide at Redcliffe station, in the Manapouri district. He had a considerable private income and had been touring the colonies for the last two years. No particulars are to hand.  -Oamaru Mail, 1/2/1899.

A Sad Suicide. — At the inquest on the late Charles Eustace Constable, who committed suicide on the 29th ult, at Redcliffe station, Mr Holder said he was related to the deceased by marriage. Constable was a man of sober habits but was subject to periodical melancholy moods. He received money from England and would have, Mr Holder thought, about L500 in the Union Bank of Australia at Invercargill. A London solicitor was one of Constable’s trustees. Deceased had told Mr Holder frequently that he had served in South Africa as a member of the mounted police during the last Matabele war and had suffered a great deal from sunstroke the effects of which he often felt both in England and the colony. Constable was found with a double-barrelled b.l. gun lying by him and his boots and stockings off. He had evidently placed the muzzle of the gun in his mouth and fired both barrels with his toes.  -Southland Times, 6/2/1899.

Otautau Old Cemetery.