SUICIDES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11770, 27 September 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

SUICIDES.

A max named Edward McDonald, a secondhand dealer, carrying on business at the corner of Pollen and Richmond Streets, Thames, committed suicide on Sept. 8, by hanging himself in an outbuilding on his own premises. The- deceased, who was 64 years of age, had been in indifferent, health for some time past, and three months ago was a patient in the hospital suffering from a severe attack of influenza. Since then he has frequently suffered from sharp pains in his head and chest, and occasionally was taken with giddy fits, which would prostrate him. At these times he would get very despondent, and threaten to do away with himself. He leaves a wife and four children. An inquest was held, when a verdict was returned that deceased committed suicide by hanging while in a state of temporary insanity.

A very sad case of suicide, and one which has caused quite a painful sensation throughout Thames, has occurred there, the victim being Mr. Thomas Cant ley. secretary to the Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and Thames Hospital trustees. Deceased had to meet Mr. Easton, the Government auditor, on September 12, but failed to put in an appearance, search was made, with the result that at about three p.m. Messrs. W. Bane and T. Newman discovered the body of deceased in the scrub in the Te Papa gully, just below the North Star mullock tip. It lay in a reclining posture with the head on the upper side of the bill, and one of the hands Avas slightly lacerated and covered with blood, which it is thought was caused by deceased clutching hold of the stumps of tea-tree whilst in his death struggles. In. one of deceased's pockets was found a glass, in which was a bottle containing strychnine, whilst there was another bottle containing a little water, and it is supposed that deceased had utilised the water from the latter bottle in dissolving the strychnine in the glass, for crystals of strychnine were found on the sides of the glass. Deceased had been in ill-health for some time past, and a short time ago he suffered from a severe attack of influenza, since which time be showed considerable depression of spirits. The auditor's examination showed that no irregularities whatever have been found in the cash, although a number of vouchers are missing, but inquiries made proved that the accounts had been paid. The minutes and accounts for the proceedings of the bodies of which he was secretary, however, do not appear to have been entered into, his books since March last, and this fact seemed to have preyed upon bis mind, and made him ashamed to meet the auditor. An inquest was held on September 13, before Mr. Albert Brace, distinct coioner. the jury, without retiring, at once returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide by taking strychnine poison while temporarily insane.

On Sept. 11 at noon the body of a man was found in about 4ft of water in Mechanics' Bay by George Bridensen, one of the crew of the scow Excelsior, as he was going along the bay to board his vessel. During the afternoon, Mrs. Jos. Lambert, late of Woodville, went to the morgue with Constable Hutchison, of Paniell, and identified the body as that of her late husband, James Lambert, formerly fanner at Woodvide. It appears that Lambert came from Woodville two months ago, having sold his farm, and hud l>een lodging with Mrs. Millar, of Parnell. He had been despondent for some time, and suffering from insomnia. Dr. Marsack had been attending him. On September 10 Lambert became very queer, and the people in the house sent for the police. Constables Hutchison and Rock went to the house to see him, but when they arrived he had left the dwelling. The police searched for him, and eventually on Wednesday, Sept. 11, heard that the body of a man had bten found in Mechanics' Bay. An inquest was held on Sept. 12 by Mr. Gresham. coroner. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committal ; suicide by drowning, while in a state of I unsound mind.

A married woman named Wilson, aged 37, wife of a borough councillor at Rangiora, was found hanging in a shed at the back of her house on September 21, dead. Another man was cut to pieces on the railway by the train at the New Plymouth Beakwater at ten o-clock on Friday, the 6th of September, making the third fatality in about a week. An obstacle was felt by the men on the train near Moturoa crossing. A search was made on the back journey, and deceased was found dreadfully mutilated, his head and one leg being severed. It appears that the man's name is James Homes. Tie was 30 years of age, and had only been a day or two out of gaol, where he had been sent on a charge of vagrancy. The occurrence has every appearance of suicide.