The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1904-03-16 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

COMPETITION  ARTHUR EVANS,  172, GRANGE-ROAD.  and there was nothing at first in his appearance to attract attention. Later, however, witness sow that he had altered the shape of his hat and pulled down the brim. He saw the last two witnesses going down Grange-road, and caw them stop at the corner, after which they walked down to their lodgings. Directly afterwards witness heard a shot from that direction, followed by another. He went down the street and saw Gilbert coming towards him with the revolver in front of him. Gilbert called out, "You had better go and look after them indicating the place from which the .'" had come. At that time Oilberrt wasCinTr followed by a police-constable, and witness went down to see what had happened. Directly he turned Gilbert shot himself with the revolver, as the policeman secured him. He was taken in the ambulance to the hospital. P.C. Burgess said he was on duty in the neighbourhood of Sussexastreet on the 90th February. Hearing a shot he went in the direction it appeared to be fired, and as he turned the corner of the street he saw the deceased, who had his back turned towards him. When the deceased man saw witness he turned up Suesex-street and commenced to run in the direction of Grange-road. Witredo gave chase, and caught up with him. Gilbert pointed the revolver at him, and witness caught him by the wrists, but the deceased pulled the trigger and shot himself. lie fell down, and witness took the revolver out of his hand and found be had shot himself through the head. The bullet had gone straight through. Witness blew his whistle for assistance, and other ocens came. On going into the house he found Roberts lying on the sofa with a bullet wound in his left side. In the revolver there were three loaded and three empty cartridges. He also found the small pistol produced, on the deceased. Bliza Finney, 8, Winsl./freest, said the deceased came to lodge at her house on Sunday, 7th February. At first he said he was only going to stay one night, but he remained at her house up to the time of hie death. Re took a little drink, but he viehayed very well. Witness saw him leave the house on the evening of the 19th. He appeared to be all right, and did not suggest whet he was going to do. Dr. H. It. Preece, Brrkenhead police surgeon, said he made a post-mortem examination. There was a bruise or the right eye, and on the right side of the head just in front of the ear was a wound. There was another wound on the left side of the head, where the bullet had passed out. The brain was terribly ploughed up, and the bone of the skull on each side was extensively fractured. Witness found old traces of meningitis, but death was due to hemorrhage of the brain consequent upon the shot. The Coroner : Would that old meningitis affect the deceeeed's mind at all?  Witness: Yes; it would make him irritable. and drink and chlorodyne would have an added effect upon his sanity. The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said the history of these two peonle, although it had really nothing to do with the finding as to what was the exact cause of the death of the deceased man. was nevertheless important, in regard to its bearing upon the state of his mind. The facts as related for the two years prior to the tragedy did not appear to admit of dispute. There was no doubt that Gilbert, who was much older in years than the first witness, was passionately attached to her. After the engagement was broken, the way in which he followed her up and down the country, when it was manifest that his attention_s were not. wanted. : showed that the man's passion was of a very strong nature. The details in regard to the tragedy were also quite CiDELT. Gilbert's attentions had been rejected, and he went to the theatre no doubt with the intention of doing ultimately that which he did when he got the opportunity later in the night. His intention doultailv was to shoot her. There was no , .  doubt either that on many cc lone previously he had threatenzd to shoot her. Thia cese seemed to him (the Coroner) one of the most extraordinary that he had ever known. He had ocarsidemble knowledge of firearms and their effect. and he ocadd not conceive of a mom fortunate escape than Mim Bates had bad, and nothing mild have been more providential. luoky and even almost improbable than that a heavy bullet such as was djacharged from this weapon, should have been *topped in its transit by a portion of the clothing. It was very fortunate indeed that they were only Inquiring into the cause of Oilbert's death and not that of Mies Hates also. If it had not beet. for Roberta' pmnmapt action he had no doubt ' that a second shot would have followed, and that probably she would not have escaped with her lie. He (the Coroner) had never heard of a case in which greater presence of mind had been shonn, or where there was* finer display of courage on the spur of the moment by a young boy. He did not know whether there was any mvard for actions of this sort, but if there was any society or , body that erieted for this purpose he would only be too glad to draw its attention to [Roberts' excellent conduct.  The jur,,, after a short consultation iii 'vate, returned a verdi2t of suicide Inhibit ..,,iporarily insane. the Foreman stating that in order to mark their appreciation of the conduct of the boy Roberts they intended to exist a subscript-ma on hie behalf by a ecmtribution on their pert. of 4. The Coroner akin eanriessed his intention of joining in the subscription.