Suicide by Rough-on-Rats.

Colonist, Volume XLI, Issue 9265, 5 September 1898, Page 2

Suicide by Rough-on-Rats.

A SAD CASE. On Saturday afternoon, about half-past one o'clock, word was brought to the Pol'ce Station that a man was lying in Victory Square apparently suffering considerably, though not from the effects of drink. Constable Bird proceeded to the locality in a cab, and within a few yards of the Vanguard street gate entrance found a man lying, a number of people being with him. Constable Bird recognised the man as William Lefoe, who was licensee of the Belgrove Hotel for some two years, leaving the hotel at the end of August last year. Lefoe was put in the cab and driven to Dr. Roberts' Surgery. The doctor asked him if he had taken anything, but Lefoe denied that he had though pressed on the point. Asked if had had drink, he answered, not that day, but he had a few the night before. Dr. Bobertsi gave him an emetic, which acted at once, and ordered him to be taken to the Hospital, which was done without delay. He continued to deny having taken anything to cause his then condition, but Dr. Talbot treated his case as one of arsenical poisoning. About ten o'clock that night Dr. Talbot telephoned to the Police Station that it would be well to take Lefoe's depositions. Sergeant MeArdle, accompanied by Mr W. Bethwaite, J.P., went to the Hospital, Mr Bethwaite, it may be stated, knew Lefoe and his family having been consulted at various times on matters of arrangement. Lefoe, who was in a low state, shook bands with the Sergeant and Mr Bethwaite, and remarked that he was very bad. His depositions were then taken. In reply to Sergeant McArdle he said " I took some rough-on-rats about half past nine this morning." Asked what caused him to do so; he replied "family troubles. I could not stand it." He further stated that the rough-on-rats he brought from Wellington with him. Asked whether anyone was aware of his purpose, he said " I could not put up with my family troubles; don't ask me anymore; I took it myself; nobody knew that I took it." He afterwards voluntarily added " Had I known I was going to suffer as long as this I would not nave taken it. I thought that ten minutes punishment would have been about all I would have." Lefoe was a powerful young man, only twenty-seven years of age, and he lingered till half past four on Sunday morning at which hour he passed away. . The cause of the family troubles of which deceased spoke is not an unusual one in such cases, being the unfortunate man's fondness for drink. On this account a prohibition order was granted him in April last, the family having come to town after leaving Belgrove. Some time after thia Lefoe and hia wife went to Wellington and then to Masterton, where they kept the Trocadero boa ding house. Here he gave way to drink atad his wife after the death of one of their ohi dren came baok to Nelson alone, going into business in Har<iy street. In consequenoe of deoessed'a threats to oome to Nelson his wife obtained a protection order. On Friday morning Lefoe arrived here by the Penguin, and went to see hia wife, who received him kiadly and msde him a meal, sad he saw the obildren, but she refused to liva with him, eayiog that she could not trust htm after the way be had treated her. He afterwards left the booaa and did not return till nxt morning when bis wife made him a cap of tea which he drank. The servant, Daisy Coles, saw bin go oataide with the cup and Bauoer and return with the cap fall of water, and she noticed him pat something in the cap, stir the water and drink it off. She did cot attach any imp rtanoe to thia though he carefully cleansed both cup and spoon. He went away immediately and the next thing so far known about him was hie dieeorery in Victory Squirt.

;— _„-._ — p— n— vm ■■■■. >*** The inquest will bs nold at the Hospital at balf past two thin afternoon.