NOTE: Maternal grandfather of the Hon. George Gair.
A young married man named George Washington Boecking, aged 27 years, residing at Maryhill terrace, Mornington, committed suicide late on Friday night last by shooting himself in the head with a revolver. The deceased, who was employed as a conductor on the Dunedin City Corporation trams for some time past, had been in a very despondent mood as the result of acute and continual suffering from indigestion. About 9 a.m. on Friday he proceeded to the carshed, not being well enough to leave earlier, as he should have done. Before leaving he told his wife to go to her mother's place, and that he would call for her after work— at night time. This, however, he did not do, so she returned home about 10 p.m., and found the body of deceased in the bedroom. The body was in a sitting posture on tho floor, with the head resting on the bed, and a six-chambered revolver by the side. The body was warm, and an attempt was made to restore life, but this proved fruitless. The deceased had previously said that were it not for his wife and child he would have no desire to live. At the inquest Martha Boecking, wife of deceased, deposed that her husband was a tram conductor, and was aged 27 years. He had been in a poor state of health for about three and a-half years. He had frequently complained of indigestion, but was always able to attend to his work, When suffering from indigestion he was extremely depressed. He had mentioned on Friday morning that he had suffered every minute of his life. He often said that were it not for his wife and child he would have no desire to live. He left home on Friday morning for work at 9 o'clock, not being well enough to go earlier. Before leaving he was sobbing, and returned three times to say good-bye. Witness was at her mother's house during the day, and returned home with her sister at about 10 p.m. On entering the house she proceeded to the bedroom, and there found deceased sitting on the floor with the head resting on the bed, and blood on the face. The body was warm. Some neighbours were called in, and attempts made to restore life, but they were of no avail. Dr Macpherson was rung up for, and arrived at 11.30. She was not aware her husband had a revolver in his possession. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased shot himself while in a state of temporary insanity. (Otago Witness, July 6, 1904)
The benefit concert given last evening on behalf of the widow and family of the late tram conductor, G. W. Boecking, who met his death lately under distressing circumstances, was very numerously attended. His Majesty's Theatre, in which the concert was held, was well filled in all parts, and no doubt those present did not represent all the tickets that had been disposed of. As Cr Scott remarked, in the course of a few words spoken by him from the stage, Dunedin always comes forward when asked to assist those in trouble. Cr Scott, in the absence of the Mayor, and on behalf of the tramway employees, who had been largely instrumental in organising the concert, thanked those present for their patronage, and also those who had taken tickets but had not attended, and at the same time expressed the opinion that the tramway employees were deserving of the greatest credit for the heartiness with which they had taken up the matter of assisting the family of their late comrade. Among the numerous audience were several other members and officials of the City Council. (Otago Daily Times, Sept. 3, 1904)
A young married man named George Washington Boecking, aged 27 years, residing at Maryhill terrace, Mornington, committed suicide late on Friday night last by shooting himself in the head with a revolver. The deceased, who was employed as a conductor on the Dunedin City Corporation trams for some time past, had been in a very despondent mood as the result of acute and continual suffering from indigestion. About 9 a.m. on Friday he proceeded to the carshed, not being well enough to leave earlier, as he should have done. Before leaving he told his wife to go to her mother's place, and that he would call for her after work— at night time. This, however, he did not do, so she returned home about 10 p.m., and found the body of deceased in the bedroom. The body was in a sitting posture on tho floor, with the head resting on the bed, and a six-chambered revolver by the side. The body was warm, and an attempt was made to restore life, but this proved fruitless. The deceased had previously said that were it not for his wife and child he would have no desire to live. At the inquest Martha Boecking, wife of deceased, deposed that her husband was a tram conductor, and was aged 27 years. He had been in a poor state of health for about three and a-half years. He had frequently complained of indigestion, but was always able to attend to his work, When suffering from indigestion he was extremely depressed. He had mentioned on Friday morning that he had suffered every minute of his life. He often said that were it not for his wife and child he would have no desire to live. He left home on Friday morning for work at 9 o'clock, not being well enough to go earlier. Before leaving he was sobbing, and returned three times to say good-bye. Witness was at her mother's house during the day, and returned home with her sister at about 10 p.m. On entering the house she proceeded to the bedroom, and there found deceased sitting on the floor with the head resting on the bed, and blood on the face. The body was warm. Some neighbours were called in, and attempts made to restore life, but they were of no avail. Dr Macpherson was rung up for, and arrived at 11.30. She was not aware her husband had a revolver in his possession. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased shot himself while in a state of temporary insanity. (Otago Witness, July 6, 1904)
The benefit concert given last evening on behalf of the widow and family of the late tram conductor, G. W. Boecking, who met his death lately under distressing circumstances, was very numerously attended. His Majesty's Theatre, in which the concert was held, was well filled in all parts, and no doubt those present did not represent all the tickets that had been disposed of. As Cr Scott remarked, in the course of a few words spoken by him from the stage, Dunedin always comes forward when asked to assist those in trouble. Cr Scott, in the absence of the Mayor, and on behalf of the tramway employees, who had been largely instrumental in organising the concert, thanked those present for their patronage, and also those who had taken tickets but had not attended, and at the same time expressed the opinion that the tramway employees were deserving of the greatest credit for the heartiness with which they had taken up the matter of assisting the family of their late comrade. Among the numerous audience were several other members and officials of the City Council. (Otago Daily Times, Sept. 3, 1904)
NOTE: Maternal grandfather of the Hon. George Gair.
A young married man named George Washington Boecking, aged 27 years, residing at Maryhill terrace, Mornington, committed suicide late on Friday night last by shooting himself in the head with a revolver. The deceased, who was employed as a conductor on the Dunedin City Corporation trams for some time past, had been in a very despondent mood as the result of acute and continual suffering from indigestion. About 9 a.m. on Friday he proceeded to the carshed, not being well enough to leave earlier, as he should have done. Before leaving he told his wife to go to her mother's place, and that he would call for her after work— at night time. This, however, he did not do, so she returned home about 10 p.m., and found the body of deceased in the bedroom. The body was in a sitting posture on tho floor, with the head resting on the bed, and a six-chambered revolver by the side. The body was warm, and an attempt was made to restore life, but this proved fruitless. The deceased had previously said that were it not for his wife and child he would have no desire to live. At the inquest Martha Boecking, wife of deceased, deposed that her husband was a tram conductor, and was aged 27 years. He had been in a poor state of health for about three and a-half years. He had frequently complained of indigestion, but was always able to attend to his work, When suffering from indigestion he was extremely depressed. He had mentioned on Friday morning that he had suffered every minute of his life. He often said that were it not for his wife and child he would have no desire to live. He left home on Friday morning for work at 9 o'clock, not being well enough to go earlier. Before leaving he was sobbing, and returned three times to say good-bye. Witness was at her mother's house during the day, and returned home with her sister at about 10 p.m. On entering the house she proceeded to the bedroom, and there found deceased sitting on the floor with the head resting on the bed, and blood on the face. The body was warm. Some neighbours were called in, and attempts made to restore life, but they were of no avail. Dr Macpherson was rung up for, and arrived at 11.30. She was not aware her husband had a revolver in his possession. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased shot himself while in a state of temporary insanity. (Otago Witness, July 6, 1904)
The benefit concert given last evening on behalf of the widow and family of the late tram conductor, G. W. Boecking, who met his death lately under distressing circumstances, was very numerously attended. His Majesty's Theatre, in which the concert was held, was well filled in all parts, and no doubt those present did not represent all the tickets that had been disposed of. As Cr Scott remarked, in the course of a few words spoken by him from the stage, Dunedin always comes forward when asked to assist those in trouble. Cr Scott, in the absence of the Mayor, and on behalf of the tramway employees, who had been largely instrumental in organising the concert, thanked those present for their patronage, and also those who had taken tickets but had not attended, and at the same time expressed the opinion that the tramway employees were deserving of the greatest credit for the heartiness with which they had taken up the matter of assisting the family of their late comrade. Among the numerous audience were several other members and officials of the City Council. (Otago Daily Times, Sept. 3, 1904)
A young married man named George Washington Boecking, aged 27 years, residing at Maryhill terrace, Mornington, committed suicide late on Friday night last by shooting himself in the head with a revolver. The deceased, who was employed as a conductor on the Dunedin City Corporation trams for some time past, had been in a very despondent mood as the result of acute and continual suffering from indigestion. About 9 a.m. on Friday he proceeded to the carshed, not being well enough to leave earlier, as he should have done. Before leaving he told his wife to go to her mother's place, and that he would call for her after work— at night time. This, however, he did not do, so she returned home about 10 p.m., and found the body of deceased in the bedroom. The body was in a sitting posture on tho floor, with the head resting on the bed, and a six-chambered revolver by the side. The body was warm, and an attempt was made to restore life, but this proved fruitless. The deceased had previously said that were it not for his wife and child he would have no desire to live. At the inquest Martha Boecking, wife of deceased, deposed that her husband was a tram conductor, and was aged 27 years. He had been in a poor state of health for about three and a-half years. He had frequently complained of indigestion, but was always able to attend to his work, When suffering from indigestion he was extremely depressed. He had mentioned on Friday morning that he had suffered every minute of his life. He often said that were it not for his wife and child he would have no desire to live. He left home on Friday morning for work at 9 o'clock, not being well enough to go earlier. Before leaving he was sobbing, and returned three times to say good-bye. Witness was at her mother's house during the day, and returned home with her sister at about 10 p.m. On entering the house she proceeded to the bedroom, and there found deceased sitting on the floor with the head resting on the bed, and blood on the face. The body was warm. Some neighbours were called in, and attempts made to restore life, but they were of no avail. Dr Macpherson was rung up for, and arrived at 11.30. She was not aware her husband had a revolver in his possession. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased shot himself while in a state of temporary insanity. (Otago Witness, July 6, 1904)
The benefit concert given last evening on behalf of the widow and family of the late tram conductor, G. W. Boecking, who met his death lately under distressing circumstances, was very numerously attended. His Majesty's Theatre, in which the concert was held, was well filled in all parts, and no doubt those present did not represent all the tickets that had been disposed of. As Cr Scott remarked, in the course of a few words spoken by him from the stage, Dunedin always comes forward when asked to assist those in trouble. Cr Scott, in the absence of the Mayor, and on behalf of the tramway employees, who had been largely instrumental in organising the concert, thanked those present for their patronage, and also those who had taken tickets but had not attended, and at the same time expressed the opinion that the tramway employees were deserving of the greatest credit for the heartiness with which they had taken up the matter of assisting the family of their late comrade. Among the numerous audience were several other members and officials of the City Council. (Otago Daily Times, Sept. 3, 1904)
Inscription
"God is Love"
In Loving Memory of
George W Boecking
Beloved husband of Martha Boecking
Died 1 July 1904
Aged 27 years
Family Members
Siblings
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