The Times, Saturday, May 14, 1910 NEWS
SUICIDE IN A MOTOR-CAR
Mr. R. Kemp, deputy-coroner for West Middlesex, held an inquest at Chiswick yesterday into the death of Robert Stevenson Sword, 23, of Teneriffe, Carlise-road, Eastbourne, who died in a nursing home on Thursday morning from a revolver shot self-inflicted.
Mr. Frederick Stewart Sword said his son left in his motor-car for London on the 3rd inst. and left a note saying he would return the next day.
On the Friday, they received a telegram from him at Hounslow saying the car had broken down, and later a message, that he was going on direct to Eastbourne.
In reply to the Coroner the witness said he knew his son was mixed up with a young woman, and they had tried to get him to break with her.
He thought that might have worried him.
He was also worried because, as the result of injuries to his head, the doctors had told him he might become quite deaf.
Miss A. Goodwin, an actress, who was in the car with Mr. Sword when he shot himself, said she had known him since February.
It was true that his father had tried to get him to break with her, and his father had spoken to her on the subject.
On May 5, Mr. Sword and she went by his car to Maidenhead.
Returning, they had a breakdown at Hounslow.
Mr. Sword stopped twice for drinks and she told him not to drink so much.
He said" Do you think I am drunk?"
She said "Yes," and then she heard a shot and saw that he had shot himself.
On her return home she found the following letter from him which had been posted at Hounslow:- "Dear Little Girl, It was not an accident; I did it on purpose; but tell the jury what I said and they will think it was an accident.
Now darling little girl, you will have some money.
I love you and I have done the only thing I can for you.
Medical evidence was given that the wound was self inflicted.
A specialist had had recently advised the father to have his son placed under medical supervision in a home on account of his mental condition.
The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind."
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The Auckland Times, Saturday, July 2, 1910
SUICIDE IN A MOTOR CAR
The tragic termination of a love episode was investigated at an inquest held at Chiswick on the body of Robert Stevenson Sword, aged 23, who had lived with his father, Mr. Frederick Sword, at "Teneriffe," Eastbourne.
Evidence showed that the young man left home on Tuesday May 3, by motor car for London, leaving behind a note stating that he had gone on business matters, and would return next day.
Miss Ada Goodwin, "an actress," who was dressed in full mourning, said she had known Mr. Sword since February, and it was true that the father had tried toget him to break with her, and had also spoken to her on the subject.
The Coroner: Did that affect or worry him very much ?
The Witness Not that I know. He seemed very pleased to see me when he called on May 3.
Continuing, she said he arranged to take her by car to Maidenhead on the Thursday, and did so.
On returning to town they had a breakdown at Hounslow, and decided to put up there.
Next morning he wired home for a chauffeur, and they started back in the evening.
They stopped at two places, and he had something to drink.
She said to him:
"DON'T DRINK SO MUCH.
You Are Going To Dine With Your Father."
He said, " Do you think I am drunk?" and she said "Yes."
Then she heard a loud report, and saw that he had shot himself with a revolver.
In reply to the coroner witness said that some weeks previously he threatened to shoot himself, saying he was sick of life.
She told him not to be foolish.
He had the revolver at Maidenhead, and she took it from him.
He said, "All right, Ada, keep it as a souvenir."
She put it in her coat pocket, but he must have taken it at Houslow.
THE SUICIDE'S LETTER
On returning home the night of the tradedgy witness found awaiting her the following letter from the deceased, posted at Hounslow.-
"Dear Little Girl, it was not an accident.
I did it on purpose.
But tell the jury what I said and they will think it was an accident.
Now darling little girl, you will have some money.
I love you and I have done the only thing I could for you."
Dr. Lowry said that the injured young man was conveyed to the Nursing Home, Chiswick, for immediate operation.
He died on the following Thursday from heart failure.
The bullet had entered the right temple, passed through the brain and struck the opposite bone.
The jury returned a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind.
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