A SAD SUICIDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2051, 15 June 1893, Page 16

A SAD SUICIDE.

(From Our Own Corbespondknt.) Auckland, June 8. About 8 this morning a member of Dr R. IL BakeweU'a family made the distressing discovery that Miss Katherine Arabella Baktwell bad poisoned herself. Dr Bdkewell v/as at the time in his consulting rooms, and a messenger was promptly despatched for him. Dr Bakewell immediately sent for Dr Lewis, and then hastened home. Upon arriving there he found Dr Lewis already in attendance. The stoncach pump WBS applied, and a quantity of arsenic was washed out. The patient was then, on tbe recommendation of Dr Lewis, sent to the hosoital, where she received every attention, but death supervened shortly before 10 o'clock. There was ample evidence that death was caused by " Rough on Rats." About two years ago two boxes of that poison were found by the brother of deceased, and they had remained in the bouse since that time. It would seem that Miss Bakewell went downstairs about 6.30 o'clock this morning and took the poison, the discovery being made so late as to render remedies unavailable. Dr Bakewell ascribes as the reason for his daughter's rash act the fact that ber mind was depressed owing to beiog overstrained by cramming to pass an examination in order to fit herself for a teacher's career. Up to last January twelve months Miss Bakewell was in the most perfect health, and prior to studying for the exami*

nation used to boast tbat she did not know what a headache was. She commenced to study for a teacher against Dr Bakewell's wisb, as he did not think she was fill ed for it. Forty-eight hours before the examination her father advised deceased to put away her books, but she persisted in studyicg until she finally broke down during the examination, and the last day could not attend. O£ course this meant a failure to pass, but Miss Bakewell hoped to secure a partial cartificate to enable her to act as pupil teacher. When she found she had failed in this also, she became the victim of melancholia. She refused to eat anything excepting scrap?, saying that they wcnld all be starved one day. Her father learned tbat the unfortunate girl had been trying to poison herself with drugs from his laboratory. Dr Bakewell proposed to go at once and sign an information to have her examined by two independent doctors, but the girl's mother and the rest of the family shrank from such a course. Dr Bakewell then seat for Dr 0. H. Haynes, who gave the opinion that Miss Bakewell was suffering from exaggerated hystari?, and recommended a change. She was accordingly sent to a friend's house at Pcnsonby, and returned in a much better state of health. .This naturally put the family off their guard, with the sad result already mentioned. The customary inquest will be held to-morrow. Miss Bakewell was a member of St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Church, Newton, and was extremely popular amongst her fellow membsra.

June 9.

At the icquest on Miss Bakewell, who died from the effects of " Rough on Eats," the jury returned a verdict of •' Suicide while suffering from severe mental depression, caused by over study."