LYSOL SUICIDE.

NZ Truth, Issue 473, 11 July 1914, Page 4

LYSOL SUICIDE.

SAO SEQUEL TO SEPARATION CASE. WIFE ACCUSED OF LIVIN(j_WITH HUBBY'S BROTHER. -...'. An Absolute Denial. TFrom "Truth's" Chrlstchurch R»p.) .

At ' last Tuesday's week sitting of -the. Marital Miseries Court, at Obristchurcbybefore Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., Atkinson was charged on the information of his wife, Jessie Atkinson, that he was an inebriate and had failed to contribute towards her support. A separation and maintenance were sought. '■•'.■ Applicant- was represented by counsel, which fact . appeared to shock her hubby, who asked for a remand m order that he also co.uld avail himself of legal advice. . , This application was peremptorily turned down and the defendant, a somewhat nervousMndividual, was forced to pit his ignorance of Court procedure the opposing forces, the. proceedings i» consequence naturally being hopelessly one-sided. When' Atkinson was asked if he Wished to interrogate his wife, his first question not being ready immediately, he was told to stand down, and the de- . fendant's opportunity (?) ; of rebutting her evidence, if It was m his power to do- so, was lost Whilst the Unfortunate fellow was m the witness box giving evidence on his own behalf, it was palpable that HE STOOD NO. CHANCE of making an impression on the Court Explaining why he toad not contributed towards his wife's support, he said that she had been living with his brother. The S.M. pounced on the witness at once, demanding to know what he meant, and Atkinson replied that the I woman was "supposed" to be his brother's "housekeeper." ! The woman wo«v again called into the witness box and asked by the S.M. if there ; were any truth m her husband's inference about her relations with his (Atkinson's) brother.. The woman, of course, denied it. 'You want a separation, the. S.M. asked? And\the woman replying m the affirmative, the order was granted, and the defendant,: who said his wages were 30/- per week, was. ordered to contribute 20/- a week towards his wife'B BUpport. (The sequel' to the case came two days later, when Constable ODea found the body of .Thomas Henry Atkinson m The woman .denied It. , EMPTY LYSOL BOTTLE lying on the tfrass nearby indicated what had caused the man's death. ' On Thursday night art inquest was held at the City Morgue, before Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., Coroner. Jessie Atkinson, deceased's wife, said she had been married 23 years. There were two children. . Deceased was 43 years of age and a fitter by occupation, although recently employed as cook on the s.s. Tarawera. Since February, 1913, they had lived 'apart and witness had received no .money from him for about twelve months. The Coroner: Last Tuesday you applied for a separation order against the deceased, and this was granted, £ 1 a weftk to be paid you?-rYes. Did you see the deceased after the Court proceedings?— l was speaking to him yesterday (Wednesday). He told mt> that he was m the wrong and that he had listened tp too many stories. In answer to further questions, the witness said the deceased was a heavy drinker and that she had been working to support herself. The main trouble between her and the deceased wa» the latter's cruelty and drinking habits. The Coroner: Your husband never mentioned suicide?— No. J said, "You know Tom, I've gone to Court for your own good, and I don't want the money except to pay the boy's funeral expenses." . ! Your son died? — Yes,' and there was ! £16 owing for his funeral expenses. I could not go to work to pay fpr the lot. I had to support myself. Amy Jones, 10 years of age, niece of the deceased, said her uncle had been i living at her home prior to his death. He had been very depressed since the I previous Saturday night when ho learned that he was to be sued for maintenance He Bald he would com-. I mlt suicide, because his wife was llv- ' ing with his brother. The Coroner: What do you understand by living with him? How old are you?— Nineteen. DO YOU MEAN IMPROPERLY? —(hesitatingly); She is housekeeper for him. Well, there Is no harm m that! On Wednesday night, witness continued, she saw the deceased with a bottle m his pocket. He refused to Bay what was m 'the bottle. In the morning when the deceased left his j bedroom witness found a bottle of lysol under a cushion. Her mother told her to put it where she found It as uncle would not do anything to himself. About 0 o'clock that morning Atkinson was golntf out, and witness pskod him to leave tho bottle with her, but ho wild he would have to bo fought with boforo ho parted with It. Ho told witness she had always been tt ifood girl to him, but ho would not give her the Uottlo. Hlh ittHt worua were that she could have It when It was ompty. Tho Coronor: Did you think ho woa m his right mind?— Ho had not eaten anything for days. No, ho did not iteem to bo m his right mind. On Tu«>nduy night, after the Court proceedings ho wuß writing letter*. These he crumpled up and put Into hi» pocket. He remarked that he would be able to wrlto a bit betler perhaps after a night's sloop. The Coroner mild ho was quite contldent that the doe«aj»ed had boon brooding ov<?r Tuesday* Court cane. "Thl» woman." continued tho Coroner, "absolutely denied that there WIDRE ANY IMPROPER RELATIONS between her and her hunband'u bro- j ther. The poor, unfortunate fellow i» dend and 1 suppose it la no use raking up family affair*." Following arc cople* of the Jotter* roforrod to which were found m the deceased pocket. The flr»t one read: "Dear Hl*, brother and Fumily.--thl« l» to l«t you know that 1 urn Htlil alive, ttUhauKh the Court ha« noatunccd me to death. I must — " - Tho »eoond letter ran: — "Pear 81k, brother and Family,— Thin I* the luhv you will gvl from me, U Ih no uhv my trying to pull myuoU together. uee«u»Ms they won't let me nlon*'. An *oon »»« 1 get a, Rood job and try to keup right they come m;

try no more. Don't forget to thank so 1, have had enough of it and will Poll and Herb, the : — •— " Constable ODea gave evidence as to the finding or the body. A lysol bottle was lying 1 alongside of it and it has subsequently been ascertained that a man answering the deceased's description, purchased a bottle of lysol similar to~the one produced from Baxter's pharroaoy the previous day. The. deceased's wife was recalled, and the Coroner asked: In Court your husband Inferred that you were living improperly with his brother. Was that true?— No; it is not true, and if anyone says it is, it is a pity they have not got something better to do.' Dr. Fenwlck gave evidence -as -to the post-mortem examination. He, said that death was caused by poisoning. The Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased met his death by swallowing lysol.