If he was truly paralyzed, I wouldn’t be shocked if the ol buzzard wanted to die. Being reduced to a cripple is a hard thing for a tough old bird to accept. But he wouldn’t want it reported that he had offed himself so he might have actually consented to die if they could keep the death quiet so he could have a hero’s funeral.
His neck was broken. He was partially paralyzed.
After a few days, a Scottish surgeon saw him and had hooks installed in his cheek bones which were weighted. After a couple of days his spine was back to straight but he caught pneumonia.
That I agree with
He was not capable of “offing” himself.