SYDNEY.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1640, 4 January 1862, Page 4

SYDNEY.

Scarcely had public opinion in Sydney ceased to discuss the disparity of the verdicts passed upon the two similar cases of suicide—those of Lenen and Thom, in the former of which a verdict of felo de se, in the latter, one of temporary insanity had been returned, —when a more distressing case than either was brought before the public notice. A Mrs. Mary Loftus, a lady who has some time since resided in Otago, in which Province, too, she was at the time of her death possessed of considerable property, committed suicide on the 10th of December last by throwing herself from a rock in the Government domain, falling from s height of about 40 feet on to the rocks half way between the Baths and Lady Macquarrie’s Chair. She was found by a passer by in a bruised and perfectly helple.3 condition, and was, at her own request, taken to the Infirmary, where she afterwards expired. An inquest was subsequently held on the body, and a verdic; of felo de se returned. Prom the evidence on the inpiest it appears that the act was deliberately effected, the deceased lady even having disencumbered herself of a hooped petticoat, which might otherwise have served to break the severity of the fall. What makes me matter so very distressing in this case, is the blameless and irreproachable character of the deceased’s previous life, for wo find her described in the columns of the Sydney journals as an intimate friend of the Bishop and Dean of Sydney—and a lady of respectable connections in England—one highly educated, strictly moral in life, amiable in character and well known for her philanthropic and benevolent disposition. At the same time it is admitted on all sides that she was of a very eccentric character, and of a highly sensitive and nervous temperament. In the evident on the inquest, it is stated “ that she had been for the last two months in a depressed state of mind apparently in regard to religious matters, as she expressed doubts of her personal salvation. Dr. Roberts, the physician who attended her, gave the following evidence: — “ I bad known the deceased as a highly educated, most estimable, and amiable lady, for some years. She possessed a highly nervous and anxious temperament, and was of high religious principle. From my knowledge of the deceased lady, I am of opinion that she would not have attempted any act likely to shorten her life had not her reasoning faculties been unbalanced . Deceased stated to me that her fall was not an accident, and that she had been driven to it by prolonged and excessive mental distress ; but the cause of this she did not mention. Judging from the general tenor of her conversation with me, I believe that during the period of her existence after her arrival in the Infirmary she did not possess her ordinary reasoning faculties, although capable of giving a distinct and reliable account ot what had occurred. Ido not think that her views of religious principle, &c., were the same as those she had formerly entertained.” —Nevertheless a Sydney jury found the verdict of felo de se. We arc glad, however, to state that the deceased lady received the last rites of the Church, and was interred in consecrated ground. The Sydney journals may well ask, “ How long shall wo submit to the disgrace of retaining on our Statute book so barbarous and useless a law as that under which such a verdict and such penalties can be enforced ?”