SUICIDES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9155, 10 September 1888, Page 10

SUICIDES.

— SUICIDE OF A MEDICAL MAN.

Dr. James Campbell, of Warkworth, committed suicide on September 5 at his residence at that place by taking a dose of chloroform. He occupied a room at Mr. Ragg's boarding-house, and on the sth September his breakfast was taken into his apartment by a member of the family, who found him apparently sleeping ; but between one and two o'clock Mrs. Ragg's attention was attracted by the heavy breathing of the doctor, who was still in bed, and she called for assistance, when deceased's head was bathed, and a shock given him with a galvanic battery, but he died a few minutes later. The deceased was in the habit of keeping drugs in his room, and on the table was found a bottle which had evidently contained morphine, while the following note, in Dr. Campbell's handwriting, was also discovered : —" Warkworth, September sth, 1.18 a.m. This is to certify that James Campbell, M.D., of Warkworth, did on or within four hours of above time die. Cause of death, broken heart, caused by inability to resist the damned glass. -I should therefore advise the jury to state at once; ' Died because ho was a fool.' P.M. unnecessary. —James Campbell, M.D. I should like Professor Ifalford, Melbourne, to have my head if anyone will semi it to him. P.S.— In earnest, if I should be found dead, I have died from chloroform administered by self, so do not make any fuss about me.J.C." About five o'clock in the afternoon Constable Haddock, of Warkworth, proceeded to Mr. Ragg's house, on hearing of the occurrence. He then saw that the body of deceased was still warm, but rigid, whilst the lips were blue, and the right side of the face nearest the pillow had turned a dark colour. Constable Haddock, having made the usual inquiries as to the circumstances of the case, gave information to Mr. M. Angove, J.P., who conducted an inquest on the body at Ragg's boardinghouse on the following day, when a verdict was returned to the effect that Dr. Campbell died from the effects of poison administered by himself while in an unsound stale of mind, tho result of excessive drinking.

A middle-aged man, named James Grove, recently employed as caretaker of Plumpton Park courting grounds, Papatoetoe, died suddenly at about nine a.m. on the sth September, at the Raglan Hotel, Great South Road, under circumstances which lead to the belief that he took poison. The man had been drinking heavily of late, and about a week ago was discharged by the Coursing Club in consequence. He went to bed about two p.m. on the 4th September, in the Raglan Hotel, and was supposed to have remained there until six o'clock the following morning, when he asked for and got a glass of beer. • At nine o'clock he was found in bed alive, but quite rigid, and apparently in intense pain, and soon afterwards expired. Constable Walker, of Otahuhu, was informed of the facts, and at once proceeded to make enquiries. He searched the clothing of the deceased and the room, and found a small phial, which evidently contained strychnine. An inquest was held on Sept. 6, and a post mortem examination also took place, so as to ascertain whether the man had really taken poison, or whether ho died from some other causes. After hearing the evidence of the landlord of the hotel, Constable Walker, and others, the jury brought in a verdict to the effect that Grove met his death by taking poison while in a state of temporary insanity. Mr. H. S. Palmerson, a well-known surveyor, cut his throat at 10 o'clock p.m. on August IS, at Palinerston North, and died at 10 a.m. on August 19. An inquest was held on bis remains on August '20.

Some sensation was caused on Friday night, the 31st of August, when it became rumoured that a man had committed suicide at Mr. Brown's boardinghouse, Victoria-street, and as usual there were some wide discrepancies, and the general impression was that the man had cut his throat. Such was not the fact, however; but it is evident that the man made a most deliberate attempt to poison himself. Timothy O'Callaghan, a man about 64y years of age, and said to be a gardener, formerly a soldier, and now a pensioner, arrived in Auckland a fortnight ago, and took up his residence at Brown's Temperance boarding-house. During the last week he has been drinking heavily, and on 31st August he procured some strychnine at a chemist's shop, and mixing it with some painkiller, took a dose of it. He informed Mr. Brown of what ho had done, and the latter at once procured assistance. Dr. Hooper was telephoned for, and was promptly in attendance, and after. using the stomach-pump, the man was taken to the Hospital by the police. He was charged with the offence at the Police Court on Sept. 4, and remanded. A Chinaman, Lee Mon Sing, was found hanging inaroom in a store in Stafford-street, Duncdin, on Sept. 4, and is supposed to have committed suicide. He was a miner, and had come from Gore on the previous day. He had been out for a walk with'his brother at three o'clock, and then went to his room to have a sleep, but an hour afterwards he was found hanging from the ceiling, and lifo was extinct.