The victim is Patrick Joseph HANSBERRY. He was 58 years of age, police sergeant, and resided at the Norwood Police Station, Osmond Terrace, Norwood. On 28 September 1924, he died after shooting himself in the heart in the backyard of the Norwood Police Station
Ethel May HANSBERY, wife of the deceased who resided at the Norwood Police Station, Osmond Terrace, Norwood states:
Patrick Joseph HANSBERRY is my husband. He is a sergeant of Police, stationed at Norwood. I last saw him alive at noon on Sunday 28 September 1924. He was then sitting in the dining room, reading the newspaper.
I heard a report which I thought was a motor blowout. A few minutes later, my son Harold came running in and said, “Father has shot himself.” I then told Harold to run and get Mr. TOUCHELL
My husband has suffered from heart attacks for about 8 years and after these attacks has been melancholy for a few days. He had a slight heart attack on Thursday night last and has been depressed since then.
This morning, I asked my husband what time he was going to church, and he replied, “I am not going to church anymore.” He also said if anything happened to him, I was to get Mr. GANNONI to bury him as he did not think he would live much longer. He has on previous occasions said that he would not live long. I did not think he would do away with himself
Joseph Harold Thomas HANSBERRY, residing at the Norwood Police Station, Osmond Terrace, Norwood states:
The deceased was my father. I last saw him alive at about noon on Sunday 28 September 1924. He was then sitting in a chair in the dining room reading the paper. At about 1.00 p.m., I heard the sound of a gunshot in the back yard of the police station.
A few minutes later, I went into the back yard where I saw my father lying on his back. I noticed a revolver lying on the ground near his feet. I then told my mother and went for Mr. TOUCHELL. I also telephoned for Doctor HALLORAN
Henry Marco James HALLORAN, Legally Qualified Medical Practitioner residing at 176 Magill Road, Norwood states:
At about 1.20 p.m. on 28 September 1924, I was called to the Norwood Police station and found Patrick Joseph HANSBERRY lying dead in the back yard as a result of a bullet wound in the region of the heart. I have previously attended the deceased as he was suffering from arterial myocardial disease associated with heart block. I believe he committed suicide while of unsound mind as a result of degeneration of the heart cerebral arteries