SUICIDE AT MANDEVILLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 31

SUICIDE AT MANDEVILLE.

Invercaboill, April 30.

John Fox, took his life between 3 and 4 o'&ook this morning at M«ndevil!e, and waa found dead in a sitting posture on a bunk in his | bedroom with a rifle resting on a bunk opposite. ' , Deceased was shot ir/the ohost near the region lof the heart. Fox figured \n a oase of tuisconduc*> towards his niece. He had been' brought) before the court several times and remanded, and was to have appeared again this afternoon, when the evidence of the girl's father (coming from, the West Coast) was to have been heard. Fox is said to have been drinking heavily since his arrest on the 18th insb., and on Wednesday night is reported to have been under the influence of liquor when he reached his horne — about two miles out of Mandoville. 16 is also reported he thrashed his son when be got home (presumably on account of the latter giving evidence against him), and that the boy cleared out. Fox was a man of about 40 yean, and has been resident in the districb for a good many years. He had been engaged in lignite raising, hut latterly followed agricultural pursuits. He was a widower,- and leaves two children — a 'boy of about 14y years and a little girl. In the court proceedings Fox was charged with criminal intercourse with' a girl under the age of 15 years. The girl was accused's niece, and went to reside with him and his wife in 1889. In 1893 Mrs Fox died, ' and about three months later accused misconducted himself with the girl, and had continued to do so up to the date mentioned in the charge. There were only three rooms inthehouie, and the whole, family and girl slept in the one room. On the 14th inst. the girl came to Gote as nursegirl to Mrs Holland, and on the 18th accused came to Gora also, and tried to get.hee to go back with him, but she refuted. He tried to induce Mrs > Hol!and to discharge her, but she refuacd^-and he threatened her with legal proceedings, stating that he had an agreement with the girl's parents to keep her till she wfti 18. Anxious to ascertain her position, Mra Holland sent for Sergeant Fleming, and to him the girl made a complaint of -accused's misconduct The sergeant took her to the doctor's, and in conseqaenca of the Vxamiaation arrested the accused, who, when the .charge was read ovqp to him, made an indignant denial. The parents of the girl reside on the West Coast, and, so far as is understood, no agreement as to " keeping the girl had been made: The girl 'stated she went .to live with fcha accused aboufc the time- of the Dimedin Exhibition, and shortly after Mrs Fox's death, in March 1893, accused be«an to miscoaduot himself towards , her. She had never complained to anybody before because she was ashamed to.