OFFENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8163, 27 January 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

OFFENCES.

A deep sensation was caused on the 20th January by the news that Captain S. F. Sewell, a well-known resident of Parnell, had committed suicide by shooting himself through the head. For some time past the deceased gentleman suffered from melancholia. During the previous fortnight he rapidly became worse, and was in very depressed spirits, and despondent. At about six .a.m. on Monday, January 20, Mrs. Sewell heard tho report of a gun as from deceased's dressing room, and pushing open the door, was horrified to see her husband lying on the floor in a pool of blood. She immediately called a neighbour, Mr. W. R. Walker, who found Captain Sewell lying dead, with a bullet wound through his head, and a rifle underneath his arm, tho muzzle pointed towards his head. Dr. Cremonini shortly afterwards arrived, and afterward Dr. Haines, bub the deceased was beyond human aid. It was evident that Captain Sewell had shot himself, the bullet passing through his head and lodging in the ceiling. An inquest was held at the late residence of the deceased, Avenue Road, the same afternoon, when the jury returned a verdict of •' Suicide whilst temporarily insane." Widespread sympathy is folt for Mrs. Sewell and her daughter, and the relatives of the deceased. Captain Sewell was highly respected. He was a retired army captain, and served in East India. Some years ago he lived in Fiji, where he owned a plantation. George Tilletb, who made himself notorious in the Greendale district by sticking up lonely houses and demanding food, and who,was sentenced to three years' hard labour, attempted to commit suicide at Ripa Island by throwing himself into the water. He was rescued by two prisoners. A telegram from Ahaura states that George Bannan, storekeeper, of Blackwater, committed suicide by shooting himself on January 13. Henry Bedford was committed for trial at Christchurch on Jan. 20, on a charge of breaking into the house of S. G. Maddison, and stealing jewellery to the value of £10. George Bannan, a storekeeper at Blackwater, near Greymouth, committed suicide by shooting himself. Mrs. Nicholson, the wife of a newspaper runner, committed suicide at North-east Valley, Dunedin, by taking Rough on Rats." She had been drinking very heavily. At Napier on Jan. 21 a cabman named Page attempted to commit suicide in the lagoon, but was dragged out in time by a policeman. Drink and jealousy are supposed to have prompted his action. On November 23 a man named Arthur Crosby was sent to tho Wellington gaol for a month, and, as he looked queer, was put in a padded cell. The floor, however, was not padded, and during the night Crosby tore up his clothes and beat his head on the flour. He became very violent, and was removed to the Asylum, where he died on Thursday, January 9. The cause of death was found to be brain disease, hastened by injury. The Christchurch police have received a communication that a man named Harry Davis went by steamer to Lo Bon's Bay on Jan. 15 and committed suicide by blowing his brains out. He was intoxicated on the voyage, and shot himself in a shed on the wharf after landing. An inquest was held on January 15 at the Lunatic Asylum on the body of a patient named John Henry Whitaker, who died on the previous day. After hearing the medical evidence, the jury returned a verdiet of " Death from natural causes." Deceased was admitted from Tauranga in ISBS. A female patient named Jane Hinching, who has been in the Asylum for ten years, died the same day. She had been admitted from Parnell.

Mrs. K. Williams, wife of Edward Williams, carter, l-yttelton, was found on Jan. 10 unconscious in her room. There was an ounce bottle of chlorodyne on the table. Family and financial troubles are supposed to have caused her to attempt suicide. The woman has recovered.

At the Police Court on January 20, before Messrs. J. Gordon and H. M. Shepherd, .1.1.'., Robert Lcvett was charged with breaking and entering the shop of Edward Whitehead, in Wakelield-street, and stealing therefrom a quantity of jewellery and a number of other articles, valued in all at £'20 17s, on January 6. A lur<je amount of evidence was given, at the close of which the Bench committed the prisoner to stand his trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court. Bail was admitted, to prisoner in £50 himself and two sureties of £25.