DISTRESSING SUICIDE IN SYDNEY OF THE SON OF A SCOTCH MERCHANT.

Otago Witness, Issue 528, 11 January 1862, Page 7

DISTRESSING SUICIDE IN SYDNEY OF THE SON OF A SCOTCH MERCHANT.

From the Empire.

Another case of self destruction by taking strychnia occurcJ on Tuesday evening last, and was the subject of a Coroner's enquiry on the following day. The evidence of two witnesses only was taken on Wednesday, and the inquest was then adjourned to Thursday, when it was resumed and concluded. The facts of the case as they came out in evidence, were of a very painful nature, revealing as they did the life history of a career which, at its opening, bid fair to he long, honourable, and prosperous, but which — the reins being given to the passions — became all chequered by vice and consequent misery, ending in selfdestruction in a house of ill-fame.

It appears that the deceased, who was named i James Kirkwood Thorn, and about thirty-six years of a»e was the son of a wealthy merchant of Leith, named David Thorn. He left Scotland about nine years ago for America. Some time subsequently, about two years ago, he found his way to this colony, and thence to Queensland, where he was employed as an overseer on a station. Early in August last he came to Sydney, tnd went, in the first instance, to reside at the Royal Hotel. A few days after his arrival here, he went to the office of Mr. Ryan Brenan, to get a bill of exchange on his father for £-2~v2 10». C.i >hul and which, on Mr. Durham (of Durham and Irwin), who knew the deceased before leaving home, entering into a bill of indemnity, he succeeded in getting cashed. During the necessary negotiations, Mr. Durham dined with Mr. Thorn at the Royal Hotel, and was told by him that his father had written for him to go home to assist him in his business, as his brother had died about a year ago. He said, moreover, that he intended going home by the ship Marquis of Argyle. Soon after this he made the acquaintance of a woman named Garrett. and went to live with her in Hoskinsplace, oh" Pitt-street. Since leaving Scotland he had indulged freely in intoxicating liquor, brandy being the particular kind for which he craved. From the evidence of the girl, it would appear that he was scarcely ever sober, being very irritable and violent when drunk, but quiet and weak in body when sober. He told the girl that he had acci- < dentally killed a dear friend of his in Scotland, when fencing, and this preyed much upon his mind. He also said he had killed some blacks up the country. He gave the girl a gold watch, a golel brooch, and two gold rings, and spent his j money in a free or rather reckless manner. He followed up this course till all his money was expended, when he borrowed from a Mr. Stratford, whom he met in Mr. Brenan's office, and also ap-" plied, by letter, to Mr. Durham for funds wherewith to pay his passage to Queensland. Mr. Durham, on receiving the letter, was much surprised to find that he was still in Sydney, as he had assured him that he intended taking passage for London in the Marquis of Argyle, and when Mr. Durham called at the Royal Hotel afier the above-named ship had sailed, he was informed that he (Mr. Thorn) had taken his luggage down to a Melbourne boat for the purpose of returning to England, via Melbourne And here it may be remarked that he did take what luggage he had .lown to the steamer, but being persuaded to remain in Sydney, he returned ashore, and so forfeited his passage money to Melbourne, as he had previously forfeited his passage to England, by deferring to go on board. As the applicant had spent £250 in live or six weeks, Mr. Durham decline i to advance any more, and so did not hear my more of him till he heard he had committed suicide. About a fortnight ago he went, in company with a gentleman, to the shop of Mr. Ilorner, chemist, of William-street, and asked to be shown i sample of strychnia. A sample was shown him, and aftor enquiring what quantity would he sufficient to destroy a native dog, purchased twenty grains, saying he was going to send it up to Queensland as a sample. This poison he took to the girl Garrett's place, in Palmer-street (she having removed there), and, fearing he intended to poison himself, she, with the assistance of another girl named Clara Keawright, who was living with her, got it from him and hid it. Subsequently, however, he found it, and kept it in his possession. At this time (his money being all spent) he was not living permanently at Garrett's, but at the Royal Hotel, where he was allowed to remain free of charge tor one week ; but he still continued to visit :he girl Garrett, though against her will, as 'vhen he was under the influence of liquor he was jealous of her, tore her dress, beat her violently, •md prevented her from obtaining a livelihood. Je had also threatened to kill her, and had fre[uently to commit suicide, remarking, especially .viien lie first went to reside with her, thatjie had but four mouths to live. Frequently, the knives, razors, &c, in the house, were removed, in order to prevent him from carrying out his threats. On last Monday night, the deceased, in company with a Mr. Stewart — who, it appoars, had been very much in his company — went to Annie Gnrrett's house, and called for brandy, which was brought him. He got drunk, and being very irritable, the .jirl Garrett, fearing his violence, left the house, and slept at the residence of a woman, who was .mrsing her child. On Tuesday morning she sent .i child to sec if the deceased was still in the house and finding that he was, and lying quietly in bed she returned and had some words with him about ii brooch which ho had given hor, but which she could not now find, and accused him of having taken. Moreover, she complained of not having any money to pay her rent, and when he saw her .sitting on*the bed crying ho gave her half-a-sovereign — the last money ho had, and which had been given him by Mr. Hudson, of the Royal Hotel, in change for a cheque, which he (Mr. H.) took as remuneration for board and lodging, though he felt certain that the cheque on presentation would be dishonored, which subsequently proved correct. The deceased asked the girl for »orae brandy, aud she went for a small quantity. When brought he refused to drink it, but desired that it might he left in a tumbler by his side, which was accordingly done. The girl Garrett then left and went to the house of a neighbour, and after a while sent up a little girl to see if the deceased was still in the house, as in obedience to his request, she had given him a clean shirt, and a woman who occasionally worked in the house cleaned his boots in the morning as if he intended to go out. It is worthy of remark that when s.lic gave him the shirts he observed, " That this is the last shirt I shall put on." The little girl returned, saying that he was sitting on the bed reading one of Wavcrlcy Novels. About half-pasfc four o'clock the child went again, and on going into the bedroom found him lying on the floor, and apparently in great agony, kicking his. heels against the floor, and crying out " Anne, Anne," and asking for water. The child, though frightened, took him a glass of water, and then ran for the girl Garrett, whooi she met coming up the street, somewhat alarmed at the child's long absence. On learning the state of the ccceascd she she sent for Dr. Milford. who, on arriving, found the body of the deceased, with life extinct, lying on the floor behind the door, with his feet under the bed. Mr. Homer waa also called in, and found on the drawers some white powder, which on tasting he found to be strychnine. In the deceased's pocket was found a letter addressed to his father, written sorao days before his death, and in the room a note apparently on the same day. A copy of this note is appended : Wednesday, 27th Nov., 18G1 II anything lmppena to me I exonerate Mrs. Garrett (or Mrs. Thorn) from all blame its well as any other person.

Suffering from much pain, I am about to take a strong narcotic, the result of which will be either kill or cure.

James K. Tiiom. P.S.— ln the event of anything happening please to apply to Charles Durham, Esq., Messrs. Durham and Irwin, Circular Quay.

James K. Tiiom

The i evidence taken was very voluminous, and quite satisfied the minds of the jury that the fatal d u<r which c«hwl his death was administered by himself, his mind being a t the time impaired by excessive indulgence in liquor. They accordingly returned the following verdict :— " We find that the deceased, while labouring under temporary insanity, caused his deatii by taking strychnine, an 1 there is no blame to be attached to any one."