Obituaries Australia

Mr. Thomas Cumming, a member of the well-known family of Western district pastoralists, committed suicide yesterday by shooting himself in the head with a revolver, at the rooms of his brother, Mr. Henry L. Cumming, legal manager, Bankplace Chambers, Chancery Lane. The act appears to have been committed on the impulse of the moment, and the news of his death came as a terrible shock to his relatives. Mr. Cumming was not engaged in any business, and is understood to have been in good circumstances. He was known to be suffering from acute insomnia and showed every sign of depression and worry.

It appears that the deceased, who spent the morning at the Australian Club, walked round to his brother's chambers at about 11 o'clock. Mr. H. L. Cumming left his sittingroom after a few minutes and went downstairs to his office. Almost immediately afterwards he heard the repart of a revolver, and ran upstairs, to find his brother lying on his back on the floor of the bedroom, with blood flowing from a large hole in his forehead. The skull was smashed, and death must have been instantaneous. By his side lay a Smith and Western revolver, with one barrel discharged. It was evident that the deceased had taken advantage of his brother's absence to shoot himself with the revolver, which always lay on the mantelpiece loaded.

A telephone message was sent to the Morgue, and the body was removed thither by Constable Magrath. Plain-clothed Constable Hawkins made inquiries into the affair. Mr. H. L. Cumming stated that he did not know of any reason which would cause the deceased to take his life, although he appeared to be worried, and complained of sleeplessness. A number of private papers were found in his pockets, and the sum of 15/5/5. There was nothing in the papers which gave any reason for his act, and up to the last moment he gave no indication to anyone that he intended to take his life. The deceased was a single man, and was a son of Mr. John Cumming of Terinallum Station, in the Western district.