§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to the circumstances set out in the following report of 12th April;— 1247
An inquiry made yesterday by Mr. Lang-ham, Coroner for the Duchy of Lancaster, reveals a sad case of suicide of a War Office draftsman, named James Francis Conolly, aged 59, of Offerton Road, Ciapham. It transpired at the inquiry that in January last the deceased received notice that he would he discharged at the end of April. He had bean in the Horse Guards branch of the War Office for near, y 30 years, and since he had received notice, through the cutting down of the Estimates, he had been very depressed. On Thursday it was intimated that he would get no superannuation allowance, and in a fit of depression on Sunday night he cut his throat with a razor.—A verdict of Temporary Insanity was returned;whether any communication had been received at the War Office from the Treasury that Conolly was to receive a year's salary on his discharge in addition to his ordinary pay; and, whether he was informed of this; and, if not, why he was kept in ignorance that any provision would be made for him?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY (Mr. BRODRICK) (Surrey, Guildford)(who replied) said, that Mr. Conolly had been suffering from depression. He was aware at the time that he was not entitled to a pension, and that an application had been made to the Treasury for a grant on his discharge, which was to take place in consequence of the curtailment of the Estimates. The application was granted, and Mr. Conolly was to receive a year's salary in addition to his ordinary pay; but he was not informed of that before his death, because his service had been extended for two months.