AN INEXPLICABLE SUICIDE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13136, 21 November 1904, Page 3 (Supplement)

AN INEXPLICABLE SUICIDE

An inquest wo 3 held at Kilmog, near AVaitati, on Thursday, before Mr C. C. Graham (coroner) and a jury, o[ whom Mr S. ifulqueen was foreman, to inquire into the (Tenth of Janet Kleauor Wilson Mocdonald, a girl ly year? of age, who was found on Tuesday hanging from llm roof of. an outhouse.

Coll Matdonald, father oi the deecased, deposed thai she was lil years of age, and had left school and was assisting hot mother in household duties. She was good in hsalih and spirit?, and nt no time showed any symptom of being menially deranged. On the afternoon of November 15 she was going about her duties as usual, witness swing her la.it at dinner time. There had never lwen any disagreement between witness and doooßft!>d and not an angry word. "When hi 3 son came and told him his daughter was dead, this being a little after 4 o'clock, he came into lhe house, and everything possible was done to revive deceased, but without succoss. Br Gault was sent for, and came within two hours, but could do nothing. Witness could in no way account for deceased's action, and she had no delusions 0! any kind. Witness saw a paper that was 'found where tlio body was found hanging, but this had been lost. There was some writing on it, hut no one seemed to have read what it was. The paper was supposed to have been blown away by the wind. Christina Maedona'd, sister of deceased, deposed that deceased showed no signs of depression, and hud been of lute in good health and was on good terms with the rest ot the family. Deceased used often to complain of her head. On Monday, after washing up the dinner dishes, deceased dressed for the afternoon, and left the house, going into the washhouse. About 4 I>.m. witness found her sister hanging by 11 rope to a rafter in an outhouse. Witness screamed out and held deceasfd up, and her brother came and cut down the body, which was then warm except for the limbs. Brandy was administered and the body rubbed, but life could not bo restored.

James Macdoimld, brother of deceased, stated in his evidence that lie caw the paper spoken of, bu! saw no signature. He saw tlio words " I'll F«on be away," but those were the oniy words he saw written 011 the paper, Janet Macdonald, mother of deceased, stated that she lmd found the piece of paper referred to. Silo did not read it, but gave it to someone, she could not remember to whom, and it afterwards got lost. Dr Gault, resident surgeon at Orokanui Home, deposed, that when he arrived at Kilmog about 0.15 of the day in question deceased had the appearance of having been dead about two hours. The body was well nourished, r.nd, except for the mark of the rope, bore no signs of any external violence. A verdict was returned that deceased's death was due to " suicido by hanging while in a state of temporary insanity.'