CRIMES AND SUICIDES.
In opening the criminal sittings at Christchurch on April 5, Mr Justice Johnston said : " I cannot see that there is any indication of the growth or development of any particular crime or class of crime, or any condition of things that should lead to anxiety as to the state of the colony, nor does it seem that the depression of which wo have heard so much has at all affected the working classes in tbo way of producing any addition of criminals throughout the country."
The grand jury at the Supreme Court through Mr Graves Aickin (foreman), referred to several juvenile prisoners against whom true bills had been found, and made tlie following remarks, showing the necessity which exists for a juvenile reformatory : —"To send a boy like Patrick Gleeson to prison, a boy only 13 years of age, would be simply to confirm the boy in his bad habits. Detective Herbert described the boy as bright and intelligent. Had the bays Knox and Maloney been Bent to a reformatory, they also might have had a chanco of being reformed from their criminal habits." Hia Honor said he would be most happy to make representations to the Government as to the necessity for a juvenile reformatory. Ho often felt very great pain at being; compelled to commit juvenile offenders to gaol, knowing that it was simply ruining them for life. On April 17 a man named William Robert Doyle, 24 years of age, reported to Constable Arthur Dews, Kybor Pass station, that his father, John Doyle, had died very suddenly at 5.30 p.m. From the statement of Miaa Emily Doyle, aged 23 years, daughter of the deceased, it appears that about 4 o'clock in the afternoon she went into the bedroom, and saw deceased lying on tho bed, clutching his hands. She noticed that his eyes were rolling. She spoke to him, but he did not answer. She then became alarmed, and ran out on the road to obtain assistance. She called in a man named Charles White, who was passing, but her father never spoke. She could plainly see that ho waa dying. Dr. Lewis was at once sent for, and was quickly in attendance, but before he arrived her father waa dead. Her father had been intemperate in his habits, but she never knew him to have any fits or sickness. She thought he was rather strange that day, as she noticed that when he went into tbe backyard he commenced to chase tbe fowls about, and put the dog on to them. Upon hor remonstrating with him for doing so, he replied that it did not matter, as it would be the last time. It wns found that deceased had purchased carbolic acid, which, it is believed, he had taken in rum.
Between 8 and 9 a.m. on 16th inst., a workman found the dead body of a woman lying on one of the stringers just under Messrs Sims and Brown's slip, off Customs - street West. He at once informed the police, and Constable Christie went to the spot indicated to make the necessary inquiries. The body was removed to the morgue. It was found to be that of an elderly woman, respectably dressed and fully clothed, excepting boots and hat, but at that time she had not been identified. Close to where the body was found were a hat, a pair of prunella boots, shawl, and necktie, apparently the property of the deceased, deposited on the breastwork, and kept together by two or three bricks placed on the top of them, which led to the conclusion that the deceased had committed suicide deliberately. Mrs Erti identified the body as that of Mrs Johanna Binning, aged about 40 years, although apparently much younger, and the wife of Mr Binning, employed by Mr Bulme as a slaughterman. The little girl also identified the body aB that of her mother, and wept moßt bitterly because of her bereavement. It appears that for some time past the deceased has manifested symptoms of mental weakness.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 98, 24 April 1886, Page 5
Word Count
677CRIMES AND SUICIDES. Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 98, 24 April 1886, Page 5
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