THE SUICIDE AT MOUNT EDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 269, 15 November 1887, Page 2

THE SUICIDE AT MOUNT EDEN.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

At 2.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Dr. Philson and a jury of six held an inquiry into the facts connected with the melancholy death of Mr Fenhoulefc, on Saturday last. Constable Dewes was presQnb on behalf of the police.

Dr. Mackellav was the first witness called. He deposed that at 10.30 o'clock on Saturday night he was summoned to attend the deceased. He arrived at the deceased's residence about live minutes before 11 o'clock. He found that Mr Fenhoulefc was already dead. The body was lying on its back on the floor of the room. The°coat had been removed, otherwise the body was fully clothed. On his neck was a blood-stained' cloth. There was a large quantity of blood on the floor. The clothing was also saturated with blood. TlTe right arm was extended, and the left was folded across his chest. The body was then warm. Both hands were empty. Upon removing the cloth he found a large incised wound extending from the loft side of the neck below the angle of the lower jaw, to a little below the middle line in front. The wound was about 3or 4 inches in length. The direction was mainly transverse. The skin and muscles , to that extent were entirely divided. The left internal jujjular vein was opened, the thyroid cartilage was freely cut into, and the larynx was laid open. He was shown a razor covered with blood, which was capable of having inflicted the wound. The position of the wound pointed to the presumption of suicide. The effect of such a wound would be a great loss of blood and syncope. Death would not be immediate. Witness had known deceased since last April, having attended him for typhoid fever. At that timeho was living at Parnell. Mr Fenoulhofc was ill rather more than a month, and was considerably reduced. At night he wandered somewhat, but had not any wild delirium. His convalescence was very slow. He ultimately regained physical strength. Since that timo witness had repeatedly seen deceased, but not professionally until last Thursday. He noticed that deceased was depressed and unsettled. He should say that deceased was a man of an anxious, nervous temperament, easily elated, and soon depressed. He was an exceptionally steady man, not given to drink. He was a bad sleeper. Last Thursday witness was called to see Mr Feuhoulet. He found him very depressed. Witness visited deceased at his wife's request. He seemed to have lost interest in himself. The appetite was also irregular. Witne?s did not then detect any suicidal tendency. At the timo lie asked Mrs Fenhoulefc, and she said that he had not made any suicidal remark. Deceased's anxiety seemed to be due mainly to his being unable to obtain employment. This caused him disappointment. Witness advised deceased to travel to try and get employment, as he considered that was the real cause of his condition. Deceased conversed quite rationally, although somewhat mechanically. So strongly did ho suspect that the deceased was not quite safe that he expressed fear to a friend of Mr Fcnhoulet's that if he went to Sydney ho might jump overboard. He did not believe that the deceased was in a sound state of mind when he committed the act. Deceased had become possessed of strange fancies. Having read books on mesmerism, he was under the idea that people had power over him. The cause of death was hemorrhage from a wound made while in an unsound state of mind. Edward Phillips Turner deposed that he was a surveyor by occupation. On Saturday last he was in company of deceased. Had known him for the last nine months. Witness came round to cheer him up, knowing that he was in a depressed state of mind. Deceased conversed with witness about going to Burmah, and advised him not to go, as spiritualism was much practised there. They alsj spoke upon the advantages of the Christian religion over Agnosticism. Deceased said that the Book of Ecclesiasres was ironical. Witness was positive that deceased's mind was unsettled. He had a

nasty vacant stare, and remarked to witness that he was reading his mind. About a month ago, when talking about suicide, the deceased argued entirely against it. Witness had said that in some eases he thought suicide was justified. (Coroner : "Rather a dangerous doctrine, that.") The deceased condemned the theory, and convinced witness that it way wrong. On Saturday they took tea together. Deceased was depressed and ate mechanically, and seemed to be thinking about something else all the time. About 7 o'clock Mr Carey Pirio came in. They then played cards in order to occupy Mr Fenhoulet's mind, but he seemed to take no interest in the game. About a quarter past nine the deceased brought in anengineeringdrawing, which he explained to Mr Pirie. Deceased remarked more than once during the afternoon and evening that he did not feel well. . Deceased again left the room to look for some other drawings. After being away a few minutes Mrs Fenhouleb went to call him. Deceased said that he would bo in directly. After about 8 minutes Mrs Fenhouleb again wen tout. She called to him and tried to open the door of the bedroom, bub could not. She came and asked witness to go and look where her husband was. Witness took a candle and went to the door. He pushed hard, and got it open. Upon entering the room he saw deceased lying on his back on the floor with his throat cub, and gasping for breath. Witness called Mr Pirie to come, and prevent Mrs Fenhoulet from entering the room. Witness went to Mr Shirley Hill's, who telephoned for a medical man. Witness and Mr P. Dufaur returned to the house. They found Mr Fenhouleb still alive. They propped up his head with a pillow, and tried to stop the bleeding. The deceased expired about ten minutes afterwards. Witness saw a razor on the_ floor between deceased's left arm and his side. Witness believed that deceased was lying down when he committed the act, as he heard no fall, and deceased's feet wore pressed against the door. Drs. Girdler and Mackellar arrived about ten minutes after animation had ceased.

Mrs Constance Elizabeth Fenoulhet, widow of deceased, deposed that her husband was aged 30 years. He was a mechanical engineer, and had been in the colony about 1\ years. Usually, he enjoyed good health, but last April he had an attack of typhoid fever, from which he recovered pretty well, but there had since been great depression in hie spirits. It was caused by want of employment ; that was his only trouble. On the whole, her husband slept very well, but he complained lately of not having felt rested when he did sleep. She noticed that during the last few days her husband had been very absent - minded. She never heard him talk about making away with himself. He was very fond of the children. There was no insanity in her husband's family. Her husband was not in want of money. He had lent money, and had not had it returned.

Constable Dewes deposed to searching the body and the various articles which he found upon it. This concluded the evidence, The jury, after a few minutes' deliberation, returned a verdict, •' That the deceased, Howell . Fenoulhet, committed the rash act while in a state of temporary insanity."