SUICIDE AT PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 860, 24 August 1888, Page 15

SUICIDE AT PALMERSTON NORTH.

(from our own correspondent.) August 20.

It is with great sorrow that I have to report the decease of Mr H. S. Palmerson, of this town, the announcement of which sad event has cast quite a gloom over the whole district, where the unfortunate gentleman was well known and highly regarded for his many sterling qualities. Mr Palmerson was 44 years of age, and has been resident in the town and neighbourhood for a period of something liae 20 years. I am told he first came here from Greytown, and was engaged under Mr Baird, chief surveyor for the Provincial Government, for a considerable time. Afterward he contracted for many large surveys under the General Government, and beside having an extensive private practice as a land surveyor, has, during the last few years, been largely employed by the Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company in laying out the various townships and setting off the bush sections along that Company’s line (proposed or completed) between Wellington and the Manawatu Gorge. Mr Palmerson married about 15 years ago the second daughter of Mr A. Macdonald, of Awahuri, and has left three children, the youngest only four months old. The deceased gentleman was of- a most kindly and genial disposition, and has on many noteworthy occasions by personal effort and by liberal benefactions manifested a deep interest in cases were such help was sorely needed. The funeral will take place tomorrow (Tuesday) at 2 o’clock. An inquest- was held on the body of Mr Palmerson at his late residence, Greystreet, this morning, before Mr G. M. Snel--Bou The following gentlemen formed the jary :—Mr J. B. Hamilton (foreman), E. Larcomb, J. T. Walker, James McDowell, H. W. Haybittle, and A. Tingey. Evidence was given by Bridget Mayner, a domestic servant in the employment of the deceased, to the effect that he had been almost - entirely at home during the week previous to his death. He had been drinking, and had been a part of the time confined to his bed from the effects of alcohol. On Saturday afternoon, after lunoh, Mr Palmerson took a gun and cartridges, and said he was going to look for a hare. Shortly afterward Bhe heard an explosion in the back passage, and sought the assistance of two men who worked for deceased and lived on the premises. Immediately afterward, however, Mr Palmerson appeared, laughing, on the front verandah, and said it was au accident. Tho charge went through the bottom of a water-tank, and caused the house to be fi.ioded. Afterward deceased ap. peared all right, aud bad tea with the family. Just as witness was going to bed about 11 o’clock she heard a scream aud went for the man, who were sleeping in a room adjoining the kitchen. Witness had no further evidence to give, excepting that Mrs Palmerson told her deceased had gone into the storeroom. The two men, William Edwards and William Graham, depo.-ed to atempting to gain entrance to the storeroom, and that, although they succeeded in partly opening the door, they could not get in, as their efforts were opposed from the inside. Edwards then went for Dr Macintyre, and during his absence Graham heard what he described as a creaking sound, suoeeeded by a noise like dropping water and afterward

by a sound like a fall. On opening the door, then without difficulty, he found deceased on his hands and knees, with blood on his beard and clothes ; there was also a good deal of blood on the floor. The knife produced (a game carver) was under deceased’s right hand. Edwards and last witness relieved each other in watching deceased during the night. He talked at intervals, praying for his family and warning them (Edwards and Graham) against drink. Dr Macintire gave evidence that he had been attending Mr Palmerson, who was suffering from the after effects of intemperance, anti was in a low-spirited nervous state. Was called to deceased on Saturday night about 11 o’clock, and found him in the position described by Graham. There was a deep gash in his throat, which was selfinflicted, and probably caused by the knife produced. Dr Porter gave similar evidence, both gentlemen agreeing that all had been done that was possible to save life. . In the evidence, which is necessarily given in brief, it was shown that the deceased gentleman after being assisted to his feet, not only walked to and from his bedroom, going out of doors and returning without assistance, but undressed himself before going to bed. It was also shown that death took place at 10 a.m. yesterday morning. The jury returned a verdict of suicide while temporarily ' insane.