SUPPOSED SUICIDE AT KENSINGTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4742, 30 April 1877, Page 2

S UPPOSED SUICIDE AT KENSINGTON.

Shortly .after 4 o'clock yesterday morning,: Constable. O'Brien's attention was called to'a man/named Alfred who was reported to have hanged himself in .one 'of the Government cottages "at Kensington. The constable atonce went to the place,'and found Goldsmith sifting' on the floor, with his back leaning against the side of the bed, and his wife holding him in her arms. • He was then alive, but did.not-speak. r The constable went for Ite Cowie, but before he could arrive the unfortunate man was-quite dead. His body was removed to the Hospital, Elizabeth Attyweji; one of the jxcighbours, states that she last'sawcthe deceased alive at about 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and some time during the night, she heard Mr .and .Mi*. :Goldsmith talking; very loudly, as though' they, were :havujg ,a ; quarrel, - The•; next thing . B ha heard; '.was -. Mrs Goldsmith screaming, and . something heavy drop on the floor. She was their called Mrs Goldsmith,- who said, ; "Alfred has hung, himself : I have "cut hini , down. Mrs Attywell entered the house and i saw the deceased lyingon the floor. He waved' his hands towards her, but did not speak.. Mavia Goldsmith, widow, of the. deceased, states that he had been employed during the ; past,five.weeks at the Kensington Brick Yards.; and always appeared, to be in a sound state of mind. Shortly before 10 o'clock on Saturday ■night he 'brought' home a shilling's worth of: brandy and drank a small glass of it. Between 12 and l.o'clock on Sunday morning Mr Gold- ; smith told her. to get to bed. They both did ; so.- -About 4.15-a.m. Mrs Goldsmith wa3 ; awoke by a noise, as if some person was strangling. Sne jumped out of bed and found her-husband-suspended from the bedroom-door with a clothes line wluch was kept ia the house. ;Sie got a knife and cut the rope from his neck ,and let him drop on the floor. She then called ;for assistance. Mr Goldsmith lived for a short im me after "eil?g cut down, but did not speak. :±hey had'lived on good terms, and were both: sober when they went to rest An inquest will be held to-day.