SUICIDES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9442, 23 February 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

SUICIDES.

HUSBAND AND WIFE POISON THEMSELVES. Quite a sensational occurrence took place at the Thames on Saturday morning, the 10th February, the circumstances of which are of more than ordinary interest. The particulars are as follow On the evening of February 9 Sergeant Gillies received a telegram from Auckland announcing that a warrant had been issued there for the arrest of a young man named George Ellis for issuing a valueless cheque to Joseph G. Pannell, of Northcote,' of the value of £3. On receipt of this information Sergeant Gillies at once instituted inquiry, and found that the accused had arrived at Thames on February 6 and stopped at the Pacific Hotel that night. The following day he had engaged a horse and buggy at Mr. C. Short's livery stable and proceeded to To Aroha. On February 10, it was ascertained that he had returned from the latter place. Soon afterwards Constable Bern noticed Ellis and his wife walking along Queen-street, and proceeded towards them. Ellis and his wife at this moment observed the constable and turned' back, and went along Cochrane-street into Martha-street, walking at a very fast pace. The constable, however, overtook them at the corner of Martha-street, and upon being accosted Ellis admitted his name. He was then informed that a warrant had been issued for his arrest for, obtaining £3 from Mr. Panneil, at Northcote, on , the 4th February, by means of a valueless cheque, and that he must accompany the constable to the station. Ellis replied, " I want to go to a friend's place with iny wife." The constable objected, and said he must first come to the station, and . that he could arrange for his wife afterwards. During the conversation Mrs. Ellis was standing a short distance away, but she afterwards came forward and s"id, " What is the matter?" The constable explained to . her what it was, and she - then > asked < , that , she be allowed to speak to her husband privately, before he was taken away. After some slight hesitation on the part of the constable this privilege was allowed, and they proceeded along Martha-street a dis-tance-of about 30 yardß. ; They then stood together for a few moments, when the constable observed Ellis hand something to his wife, and the latter at ' this moment turned | her back and shaded them both with her I ( umbrella. After this both Ellis and his I

wife accompanied the constable to; the Police Station where he, was immediately brought before Mr. E. McDonnell, J.P., and charged with the offence mentioned. Sergeant Gillies asked for a remand to Auckland, which was granted. Bail being allowed, accused in himself £50, and two sureties of £26 each. —

Just before going into Court, Ellis complained to the sergeant of feeling unwell, and immediately on coming out he became very sick, and commenced to vomit very violently. He then said that he had taken chlorodyne, that it was all up with him, and that ihe had purchased a bottle of chlorodyne before leaving Auckland; that he had taken it before the constable had arrested him, and that before doing so he had divided the contents of the bottle into equal parts in two bottles, and that his wife had drunk the contents of one bottle, and he had drunk the other. Sergeant Gillies at once telephoned for Dr. Payne, who arrived almost immediately and commenced at once to use the usual remedies in such cases. Whilst so doing Mrs. Ellis, who had been absent for a short time, arrived on the scene, and she was informed that her husband was very ill from the effects of the chlorodyne he had taken. The question was also put to her whether she had taken any. To this she did nob reply, and consequently she was told what her husband had said, and that she would require to, at once undergo medical attention. She declined to have any medical attention. However, after some considerable persuasion she consented to be put under treatment, and she was at once attended to by Dr. Payne. Soon after, both were removed to the hospital, Dr. Payne accompanying them, and on arriving there Dr. Williams used the stomach pump on both of them.

Ellis is only about 25 years of age, and bis parents are supposed to reside ,at Te Aroha, whilst his wife is about 20, and her parents reside in Auckland. Both the accused were brought before the Thames Police Court on Feb. 14, and charged with attempting to commit suicide. The male prisoner was committed for trial, and the case against his wife was dismissed. The charge against George Ellis of passing a valueless cheque was withdrawn, the prosecutor declining to press it.

On January 26 the body of an elderly man named Robert Furness, a carpenter, living in Hopper-street, Wellington, was found in the harbour, with a letter in a pocket saying he could not face his creditors.

A young married woman was taken to the Wellington Hospital on Feb. 13, having taken a solution of match heads. She is recovering. Frederick Charles Cottle, aged 30, a wellknown farmer at Lower Hutt district, committed suicide by hanging himself with a strap from a tree. No reason is assigned for the act.

A married woman named Annie Vendt, aged 25, a half-caste, wife of Morris Vendt, insurance agent, committed suicide at Wellington on Wednesday morning, the 31st January, by strangulation. Domestic infelicity is alleged to have been the cause. Vendt and his wife had words over the latter's conduct, and it was decided that she should proceed to Auckland on Jan. 30, but the Waihora being crowded, she could nob secure a passage, and was to leave next day. She occupied a separate room from her husband on the night of Jan. 30, and early next morning she was heard to lock her room. Later in the day the room was entered, and it was found that the unfortunate woman, who is a daughter of the Hon. William Swanson, of Auckland, had taken her life by twisting a handkerchief round her neck. At the inquest the husband gave evidence that deceased had been subject to hysteria since the doctor told her it was impossible she could ever become a mother. She did not seem at times to know what she was doing. A verdict of " temporary insanity" was returned.

Marion Allan, aged 24, a domestic servant, attempted suicide at Wellington on February 3 by drinking spirits of salts. She had written the following letter intimating her intention to take her life :— " I'm only a trouble here. I think lam too wicked to live. I never do things properly, and it makes me mad when I know everyone has been good to me. I would rather die than go into more trouble, for it is not only myself that suffers but others. I know that I shall not meet my dear mother." The woman subsequently died. At the inquest on the body a verdict of temporary insanity was returned. The evidence showed that the unfortunate woman had on two occasions been confined in the Sunnyside Asylum. Samuel Alexander Pinkerton, a driver in the employ of the Westport Coal Company at Coalbrookdale, hung himself in his hut. His head was affected by an accident which he met with a few years ago. He was well known in Nelson and on the West Coast.

On February 7, at half-past one p.m., Constable Lynd, while on duty in Queen-street, received information that a woman named Susan Pierce, wife of W. A. Peirce, labourer, of Albert-street, had attempted suicide by eating a number of phosphorus matches. Dr. Wright recommended the woman's removal to the hospital, which was done. On arrival, Drs. Little and Forbes used the stomach-pump, and got a quantity of stuff from her stomach which smelt strongly of phosphorus. On the passage up from the Great Barrier on Feb. 7 a passenger named John Murray was reported missing. The general impression on board was that it was a case of suicide, as Murray complained strongly of the pains in his head. William Stevenson committed suicide at Timaru on February 19 by hanging himself in a stable near Pleasant Point.

A man named Greig attempted suicide at Stratford on February 17 by swallowing a quantity of laudanum. Dr. Hirston was promptly in attendance, and it took about six hours' treatment before Greig was pronounced out of danger. He was a partner in the firm of Shandand Greig, commission agents at Stratford. The cause of the rash act is not known.