MELANCHOLY SUICIDE OF DR. COMBE, BARRISTER-AT-LAW.
Last Friday morning the town was startled by the report that Dr. Combe, bai'rister-at-law, had beenfound dead in his bed, with his throat cut, the body presenting all the appearances of that of a determined suicide. The report proved too true. There, in his scrupulously orderly bedroom, lay the dead body, uridres3ed, save but a red under-shirt, and an overshirt of white flannel, both being loosened at the neck. The bed-clothes were lying as if the unfortunate man had suddenly risen up in bed, and, by a movement of the left arm, had thrown them back, uncovering himself, and then inflicted one frightful cut'on his throat with the razor which was found lying on his right thigh, where it had evidently dropped from his nerve, less grasp, as he fell back simultaneously with the infliction of the wound. The wound was a deep and wide gash, severing the muscles and blood-vessels, and penetrating, apparently, to the spinal column. The blood was spirted on the wall at the top of the bed. One remarkable circumstance was that no appeavance of his ordinary daily dress was to be seen about the room. Neither coat, vest, trousers, boots, nor socks were visible ; and it would appear that he had placed these carefully away before going to bed. Prom the appearance of the face too, we are informed that the chin had been clean shaven only a few hours before. The candle, which stood on the night table at the bedside, had been blown out, as it was only partially burned.
An inquest was held in Mr. Jervis' Commercial Hotel the same afternoon. The following is the evidence:—
George Tew, milkman, deponed: I have been in the habit of supplying milk to Dr. Combe, and went as usual that morning, about a quarter past seven. The housekeeper told me she had called Doctor Combe several times, but could get no answer, and aaked me to go into his room. I called, but got no reply, and then entered the room, which was dark, a dark curtain being over the window. I raised the curtain, and saw him lying on the bed with his throat cut, and in the same position as he is now. The housekeeper came behind me into the room. She said she would go for Dr. Squires, and I went for the police.
Mary Bradley, housekeeper to the deceased, depor.ed : I have been Dr. Combe's housekeeper for one year and three-quarters. After lighting the fire this morning I called deceased, but got no answer. He was usunlly an early riser. Mr. Tew came in, and 1 asked him to go into the Doctor's room, as I had called him more than once, and got no reply. He and I then went in and fouud him a 9 he no.v lies. He burned some papers the previous night. He had been very desponding lately, and talked less than usual. I last saw him alive lust night between seven and eight o'clock. He said he was writing to Mr. JPrendergasfc, the Attorney-General. I suppose he had posted the letter as it was not on his table this morning. I was out last night till half-past ten, and when I returned he called out. I atiswered him, and he said, "all right, I'm.in bed, good night." Mr. Shallcrass, Chief Inspector of Police, deponed that he found no papers in his room relative to his denth,
Mr, Sharp, Resident Magistrate, deponed : I had some business conversation with Dr. Combe on Tuesday last, but found his mind to wander from subject to subject. I told him he did not seem very well. He said his mind was depressed and nervous, and that he was disappointed, and everything seemed to go wrong with him here; and that he had felt depressed for the last three or four weeks. I could not get him to talk of business explicitly, and asked him to put it off, and write to me on the subject, which he said he would do. My own conclusion was, that he was in difficulty in his finances, and was in depressed circumstances.
Frederick Palmer: I have known deceased for upwards of two years. I have been his clerk for ten weeks. Deceased, was very low in spirits during the past few weeks. He said things were very dull here, and he should be pbliged to leave the place; but I did not suppose he was in embarrassed circumstances. He to.ld me had written to Jljr. Brendergast for an appointment, and had received an answer that there was no opening at present, but when there was ho should let him know. I thought yesterday and the day before he was more cheerful. I packed up a lot books that he wished me to take to Wellington to Mr. Prendergrast, He paid me up yesterday morning at eight o'clock and discharged me.
The Jury found a- vei'dict to the efieet that deceased had committed suicide wfyile laboring under temporary insanity, Dr. Combe was m partnership with the late Mr. Poyntev, who died about a year ago; and while evidently eccentric in his manners, nothing particularly noticeable was seen until within the last few weeks, when he exhibited niuch more than his customary excitement, and frequently expressed himself as being short of money. Dr Combe was a far travelled man, highly educated, a good lawyer, and intimately conneoted with the chief partner of the well-known English firm of Combe, Delafield, and Co. He was for years a barrister on the Surrey Circuit, but was erratic in his movements, having been five or six times home and back again in these Colonies. He had for a time officiated as Acting-Judge of the County Court at Ballarat. He had also travelled in America j and was intelligent and entextaining conTersationist. The unfortunate man was believed to be about fifty years of age.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18690907.2.12
Bibliographic details
Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1247, 7 September 1869, Page 2
Word Count
989MELANCHOLY SUICIDE OF DR. COMBE, BARRISTER-AT-LAW. Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1247, 7 September 1869, Page 2
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.