J. E. SARGENT'S DEATH.

Evening Star, Issue 12764, 17 March 1906, Page 2

J. E. SARGENT'S DEATH.

The inquest on the body of Joseph Ernest Sargent wag proceeding whenj we went to presa yesterday. The pwceedipgs after 3.45 p.m. .may be summarised as follows-:

Adete, Kate Sargent, wife of the deceased, said that since about August her husband's nervous systeni wjjs. shatterd amd lie ba-d been in a low and depressed state, but eho did not know of aaiy organic disease. He consulted Dr Maopherson in August. Dr Macphenson sakl it was nervous prostration, and that he must take a rest. He did not take th© advice, thinking he woqld get better without giving up work He did not get better. He fancied that if he took a holiday he would get the eack. He did not apply for leave. He had not domestio or money troubles, but he thought that if he lost his place at Thomson, Bridger's he would not get another, and. he bad lost most of hia savings in gold-dredg-ing a few yaws ago. He had taken it into his head lately that she would be better off without him. He had said so. He fancied that if be were gone her father would look after her. The three children worried him. They were rather' delicate, and bo worried over it. Lately he said he had fiome mistake in his work, and he was afraid the firm would take proceedings against ham. He said he would land either in gaol or in, the lunatic asyulm. He did a good deal of going back, but lately, she did not think he would have needed to do so .much but for his being in bad health and not able to get through his work. Her husband and herself had always lived, on the most affectionate terms.

Wm. H. Melton, salesman in the employ of Thomson, Bridger, and Co., said that be had heard the evidence of Mr Williams, and confirmed the same with one exeejh tion. Mr Williams said tiiat Sargent was working till eleven and twelve at night. That was not so. There were several nights lately on which he was not at the shop at all. He used to come at 9 a,m. and leave at about 5.30 pun. He had a regular hour for dinner. When he returned of a night it would not be till 9.30 or 9.45 p.m., and that only occasionally—not every night. To Mrs Sargent: No record was kept of the men's hours. In answer ,to Mr J. C. Thomson witness added that with.every 'Frisco mail he and others" of the staffl went back in the evening to make out indents. He only - occasionally, eaw Sargent there on those occasions. James Cox Thomson, managing director of the oompamy, said that deceased was the firm's bookkeeper, at a salary of £4 10s a week

Mrs Sargent: £4 10s? Witness repeated that that was his salary. Tho homß of the office were from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p,m., with an hour's interval. With the exception of two or three days at the beginning of each month the staff were newx back in the office at all. Mr Sargent used to remain, after the staff left till 6 p.m. and sometimes 6.30. There was no necessity for any extra night-work, and with the exception, of hearing that he occa'sionally went back witness was not aware that Sargent was doing right-work. ' Witness occasionally went back himself, but very seldom saw Sargent there./ He was a most accurate worker, and his work was always up to date. The fact that he said he had made some mistake in his books was, witness thought, a hallucination. There was nothing in his appearance or his majßier to indicate that he was unwell. Witness bad daily intercourse with him, and could see mo difference in him, even up to yesterday. He never spoke to witness about his health. If he had asked tor a holiday he would have got it at once The members of the staff always got a holiday when they asked for it. To the Foreman: Ho had never before heard of any Sunday work, and if he had known of it he would have stopped it. The verdict was to the effect that deceased shot himself whilst temporarilv insane. ' J