DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XV, Issue 738, 22 September 1866, Page 3

DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Early this week a reward of £5 was offered by the police for information as to the whereabouts of one John Campbell, a hawker, who had nob been seen since Monday week, the 10th instant, when he was left by a companion near the house of Mr. J. Robinson, Whaler's Gate. As deceased had lately been drinking a great deal, and could not be found at the place to which he was supposed to have gone when his companion left him, it was feared he had come to some "violent end. On Wednesday news was brought into town that tho body of Campbell, had been found "suspended by a woollen comforter to a fern tree on Mr. Putt's farm, near the Sugar Loaves. The position of the body and other oircumstanoes pretty clearly showed that tho unfortunate man had put a.i end to his own existence. The frond to which the comforter was attached was barely seven feet from the grouud, and as Campbell was a man nearly six feet high, there was not sufficient space for him to properly suspend himself, so that as the frond sunk with his weight, his knees eventually/rested on the ground, and death ensued by strangulation. This fact sufficiently shows the determined manner in which he put an end to his existence.

An inquest was held on the body on Thursday last, before Mr. Flight, coroner, aud tho following Jury : J. Colesby (foreman), J. Hendersou, G. Corney, R. W. Greenwood, D. Callaghan, D. Nicholl, John Crowe, R. Julian, James Bayly, W. Stuart, T. O'Brien, E. Welcome, R. Grylls, and T. W. Titterton.

After tho Jury had viewed the body, the following witnesses were called :—: — Walter Sturmey, who deposed ; I knew deceased. On Monday, the 10th instant, deceased and I walked out to the Whaler's Gale. On reaching Mr. Joseph Robinson's house between 12 aud 1 o'clock, I asked him to go in there and stop a day or two to keep clear of the public houses about town ; but he would not go in, and said he would rather turn back. Finding I could not persuade him to go in I went into the house myself for a minute or two, leaving Campboll in the mountain road. When I came out again I fouud him gone. I thon returned to town, thinking he had preceded me. He did not appear to be labouring under any disease, but said he felt very bad inside, and pointing to his breast. Bofore he left town he seemed quite rational.

By Jury : From what I saw and he 'rd, doceased had been di'inking heavily for a fortnight before that time. I was not aware ho had been suffering from delirium tremens. I am not aware that he ever made an attempt on his life.

Joseph Hart deposed : I am in the employ of Mr. Putt. About half-past one on Wednesday Mr. Putt's son camo aud told me that there was something 1 hauging on a tree which looked like a man. I went to the place and Baw a man haugiug on a fern tree. There were ouly a few fern trees aud some small bush on thu spot. I went and informed some persons of the circamsfance, and we sent for the police. I had seen the man who" was hanging once before, when he came to Mr. Putt's house to soil cloth.

By tho Jury : I saw the body cut down. No ono. searched the pockets.

Constable Duffin deposed that he saw deceased hanging to a forn tree on Mr. Putt's farm. The man was on his knees, and had a comforter round his neck, one cud of which „vjj,s tied to the tree and the other tied round his neck. Witness cut the body down and brought iv into town., Thomas Dare; publican, deposed : I know doceased, who lodged at my house nearly a month. During the first time ho lodged with me he was very steady, quiet, and reserved till his partner went away, after which he appeared to have something veryjioavy on his mind, and told me that he had not drank anything for above two years; and was in for a spree. I tried to dissuade him from it, but without success, and he drank heavily for about a week till the steamer came by which he was to leave for Wellington. He. said he had no money, and should havo to sell some of his things. I then purchased above" £3 worth of things from" him. I sent two men down to the beach to carry his goods for him. They tried everything in their power to get him to go on board, but he would not go; Towards evening I met him in town j he was the worse for liquor, and I took him to my house; ,He stopped with mo a week after that, but I refused to serve him with a drop of liquor during that time. He was very troublesome every night, and no one could sleep for him. On Monday, the 10th instant, he said he thought he was getting round and should bo all right iv a day or so, and Would like to go to some quiet placo^ where he ootfld keep away from drink. I went to Dr. Rawson that morning to see if I could get Campbell in ttte hospital ; Dr. Rawson referred me to the Chairman' of the Relief Cotnmictce,' but at the same time told me he did not think I could get Cdmpbell in,' in his present state of mind.' When I returned home,' finding deceased had gone down town, I asked Waller Sturmey to see if he could find Campbell anywhere. Sturmoy afterwards told me that Campbell bad consented do go to Omata with him. I saw them both just before they started for Omata, whoa deceased appeared sensible aud cheerful.

By tha Jury : Daring the last week doceasod was with me ho used to walk about hid* room at night, and one night he got over the partition aud fell into the passage j bat ho used not to shout aud make a nois,e. He always appeared sensible. During the last week 1 believe he was suffering from deHrium tremens.

Constable Doran deposed : I was present when the body was cut down. It was in a Kneeling positiou about a foot from the tree. One cud of n red and white oom'fortor Was round the neck of tho body, tho other round the fern tree. The comfortor w.-is tied very tightly round t,he neck, and was stretched so tight betwoon tho treo and the body that wo co'ukl not loosen' Hie knot round tho neck, and were obliged to ctft the, comforter. By the Jury : There were no minks to show deceased had climbud up the i jvo; Jlia cip Was lying two ov three yards from wiiure he was hanging.

Dr. Rawson, Colonial Surgeon, deposed that he had seen the body of deceased, which wag much decomposed, A cravat was tied tightly round the neck, and the kuot was on tho left jugular vein in such a position that a very slight pressure upon it would causa death. Witness considered deceased had been dead at least a week, and that the cause of death was strangulation.

The Jury, after about a quarter of an hour's deliberation, returned a verdict to the effect that deeoaied strangled himself during a fit of temporary insanity.