Found Shot on the Western Park.
The Borough Coroner (Mr. E. G. B. Fowler) held an inquiry at the Town Hall, yesterday, into the death of Arthur Herbert Capewell (47), a shoe clicker, residing at 17 Scott street, who was found shot on the Western park on Wednesday.
Dr Spriggs said the man had bean dead several hours when he saw him. There was a bullet wound behind the left ear and another mark as though a bullet had just grazed his head. Death was due to injury to the brain caused by a revolver shot.
Louisa Capewell, the widow, said her husband had been employed at the Wheatsheaf Works for 25 years, and left there last February. He was then suffering from depression, and this health had since become gradually worse. He started at another place, but made a trouble over leaving the Wheatsheaf Works. There were two sons in the Army. He went to work as usual on Wednesday morning last, but as he did not come home to dinner she made inquiries and heard that he had been found shot. She recognised the writing on the paper produced as that of her husband. It was as follows: "My head is so bad. I can stand it no longer. Forgive me, my dear wife". The revolver was brought home by one of her sons, who had been out camping. The deceased was left-handed. The pains in his head were quite recent, and witness had attended to him for them.
James Swift, Corporation labourer, said he was employed on the Western Park, and was having his breakfast in the mess-room on Wednesday morning when he heard two shots. He took no notice of these as people were frequently shooting birds near there. He afterwards saw the deceased lying on the grass under the trees, but thought he was asleep. Going by the same spot later he found the deceased still there and tried to wake him, but found he was dead. He called a police-constable, who took a revolver out of the deceased's left-hand. The revolver contained four loaded and two spent cartidges.
The jury returned a verdict of suicide, there not being sufficent evidence to show the state of the deceased's mind at the time.