SHOCKING SUICIDE. A MAN JUMPS DOWN A WELL.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 106, 13 June 1885, Page 3

SHOCKING SUICIDE. A MAN JUMPS DOWN A WELL.

Constable Collis received information at an early hour Tuesday morning, June 9, that a man named William Bellingham,by tradea; carpenter, had committed suicide by jumping down a well in Lincoln-itreet, Ponsonby. On receiving the information, the constable called for Dr. Knight, who promptly accompanied him to Bellingham s house, and found that the body had been drawn out of the well by several neighbours. Dr. Knight's services, however, were' unavailing. The man was quite dead. Mrs Bellingham statea that she woke up this morning about two o'clock ; missed her husband from her side, also from the room. She at once got out of bed, and receiving no answer to her calls for William, popped on some clothing and went down stairs in search of him. The back door was partly open, and on looking around she missed several pot plants which had been placed on the well lid. Others were knocked over The lid of the well which had previously been nailed, was down over the top, but on closer examiantion, she found the nails had been drawn out. Her husbatids conduct had previously been eccentric, and she at once concluded that he had jumped down the well She at once called her neighbours in the next house, and, assisted by two men, the body was brought by grappling irons. On examining the body, Dr. Knight found a cut on the right breast, 2in. in depth and l^in. in length, apparently done with a knife or chisel ; and it was surmised that he might have at tempted suicide with some sharp instrument before leaping into the well ; but no knife has been found near the spot. Bellingham is about 35 years of age, and leaves a widow and two children. The unfortunate man met with a severe accident two or throe years ago, and received an injury in the head. Of late he has been depressed and melancholy, and exhibited some eccen atricity of conduct.

An inqueat was held this afternoon at three o'clock at the Ponsonby Hotel before Dr. Philson, coroner, and a jury, ot which Mr Gregory was chosen foreman, on the body of Win. Bellingham, who committed suicide yesterday morning by jump ing into a well. Constable Collis repre sented the police. Ellen Bellingham, widow of deceased, residing in Lincoln stroet, Ponsonby, was examined, and deposed that her late husband was a carpenter, 39 years of age. He had noD been in good health since his accident, which injured his spine, some three years ago He had been attended by Dr. Stockwell, who visited him on Monday On Monday night she noticed nothing unusual about him. He was restless, and complained of not being able to sleep. A candle was left burning in the room. About 10 30 he said he would get up and sit by the fire in the kitchen. She went to sleep, and on waking found that he had left his bed. She got up and went into the kitchen. He was not thero. She saw that the back door was open, and on going into the yard she saw the pots scattered about, and tne lid of the well open. On looking into the well she -aw air bubbles on the water. She called Mr Yo.uig, her next door neighbour, who procured a grappling iron, and with the assistance ot oilier?, and a clothes line, drew up the body. Constable Collis ai rived, and the body was taken into the house. Dr Knight came and pronounced life extinct i ccca&cd had fejid he *vas iiied of lite Ilia fepii its were often depie-sed. His legs were paralysed, and he was unfitted for tegular woik Witness behe\ ed that he had gone deliberately to the well and commuted the i t. The lid had been nailed down. Her hu.-band's affairs weio not in an embarrassed state.— Drs. Stockwell and Knight gave evidence. The former medical gentleman deposed to the injuries which deceased received in Novem be'r 1SS1, through falling fiom a loft on to a conoote wall— a distance of twelve feet which caused paialysis of the lower limbs. Witness always regarded him as a grave, despondent man. Deceased alto suffered from retention of urine. - Dr. Stockwell described the wound on the breast, and was of opinion that di owning was the causo of death.— Dr. Knight gave similar evidence. Archibald Young, a ship w right, deposed to being called by Mrs Bellingham, and to getting the body out of the well. The water was fifteen feet doe p. — Cons-tuble Collis had known deceased about twelve months. He assisted in getting the body out and fetched Dr. Knight. Ho could not account for the wound. Had scaiched, but found no knite or implement about the place. -The jury considered the facts adduced in evidence, and returned a verdict " Found Drowned," but there was no evidence to show how he got into the well.