THE SUICIDE OF MR. T. W. REES.

West Coast Times, Issue 250, 11 July 1866, Page 2

THE SUICIDE OF MR. T. W. REES.

(feom the geey eivee abgus.)

About five o'clock on Saturday morning a very determined suicide was committed by Mr Thomas Webb Rees, manager of the branch of the Bank of New Zealand in this town. He cut his throat with a razor, in the bedroom of his house in Mackay-street. The full particulars of the case were elicited at the inquest, which was held yesterday, by Mr Warden Revell, at Murphy's Hotel, Boundary-street. The evidence then given was as follows :—: — Ann Frasor — I have been living with the deceased, but am not married to him. I have had one child by him. On Friday night last we went to bed at half-past eleven o'clock; he was apparently then in better spirits than- he had been in for three or four night* previously. He had been in low spirits ; but when I asked him what was the matter, he would not tell me. For the last four nights that he was alive he was very restless, often getting up dui'ing the night and taking a drop . of gin and water, and then coming to bed again. I cannot recollect how often he got up during Friday night, but the last time he spoke to me was when I felt him coming into bed. I then asked him what was making him so restless, and he said, " Oh, Annie, I cannot sleep." He also asked me to turn round and speak to him. I did so, and said, " Well, what is the matter," but he made me no answer. I cannot tell what time this was. I had been asleep for a time, when I was awoke by hearing a noise like a gush, as if the deceased waß vomiting. I sat up and called out a good many times, but got no answer. I screamed out for Mrs M'Lean, and got up to look for the matches, but could not find them. I put my hands down and felt the deceased lying on the floor, and as I passed my hands up towards his head I felt a cut under his neck. • I put my arm under his head and held him up until the doctor came. He had the basin under his head when I found him. I called out to Mrs M'Lean that " Papa had cut his throat," and asked her to go and call Mr Finlay. Mr Pain was the first who entered the house, and he went for the doctor, who arrived shortly afterwards. The only other persons who slept in the house that night were Mrs M'Lean and Mrs Martin. No person slept in our bedroom except deceased, myself, and my little boy. The deceased and I were living on good terms, and never had anything more than a few words with each, other. I cannot exactly say, but I think the last time we had a dispute might have been about three weeks ago, Two or three dayß before the deceased cut his throat, I think on Tuesday or Wednesday, he said to me, " Don't be surprised, Annie, if I cut my throat." Before he said so he gave me some money, L 44, and we had had some conversation that day about my going to Melbourne. It was in the forenoon he gave me the money ; in the afternoon I asked him why he gave it me, and it was then he made the reply that I was not to be surprised if he cut his throat. I told him never to be so foolish as to do that, and , he* made no reply. He started to go to Hokitika on Friday last, the 6th inst., for the purpose of seeing Mr Murray and Roberts, of the Bank of New Zealand, with regard to allowing me to remain where I was, as they both wished, him to put me away. Before going, he made over to me the house we were living in by a written document. He did not go to Hokitika, but returned home wet, and told me h8 was nearly drowned in the Teremakau River. He said he met Mr Trenery, and he got a message from the Bank of New Zealand. I asked him if there was anything in it about me, and he said " No." He seemed as if he had had a good deal of drink. I had no suspicion or fear that he would cut his throat ; if I had I should have watched him. On Friday, before he went away, I asked him what was troubling him, but he refused to tell me. I knew nothing at all of his business affairs, and I never knew of his being pressed for money, or in difiiculties of any kind. By Inspector James — The deceased made over to me the property voluntarily. I did not insist on his doing so. I produce the document which he wrote, and gave me before he left. He read it over to me. (It was a simple transfer of tho cottage in Mackay stree, and all that it contained, from himself to tho witness.) By the Magistrate — When he gave me this paper I had no suspicion that he intended to destroy himself while he was away. If I had I should have told either Mr Davies or Mr Finlay. By Jurors — I do not think he had partaken of any spirits prior to his departure for Hokitike, but he had a glass of gin on his return after dinner. He returned and kissed m» three or four times before he went away, because I was crying at his departure. There was nothing remarkable in. this, for he often did so. lam prepared to state that the signature to the transfer of the properly is that of the deceased, and that I saw him write it.

By the Magistrate — I did not see a razor or knife lying on the ground when I was holding the head of the deceased, as the room was dark at the time, and I left it when a light was brought. No person could havo come into the room or left it, when I heard the gush, without my noticing then. The bedroom door was always left open a few inches at night, but I could not say whether the door was open or shut on Friday night, as I did not take notice of it. By Inspector James — The deceased was alive when I got up to Mm. He never spoke, but he gave his last breath on my arm just as the doctor was coming in. I held his head from the time I rose until the doctor came in, which I do not think was a quarter of an hour. There was no light in the room until the doctor came, but Mrs M'Lean had come in when I called, and turned the window-blmd to admit some light.

A. L. M'Lean— l am a married woman, and a dressmaker, residing at Greymouth. I have been living at the house of the deceased since the first of the present month; but I have only known him since I came here. I have known the last witness for four years, and latterly she has been living with him as his wife. I noticed nothing the matter with the decased during the week that I was living there. He and the last witness appeared to get along very agreeably and happily together. I have never seen any disputes between them, except only au occasional word or two. I saw the deceased on Friday morning, before he started for Hokitika. Ho bade us all good-bye together. He then returned twice, but he kissed the last witness three times. She was rather dull and was crying, as she always did when he went away anywhere. The deceased returned about five o'clock in the afternoon, and as he was very wet he changed his clothes. He said he had attempted to Bwim tho Teremakau, and was nearly drowned. We all dined together, and he appeared to be in his usual spirits. The servant girl and I wont to the Theatre in the evening, and when we returned home he appeared to Be all right. It was half-past eleven before any of us went to bed, and I think that Ann Fraser went to bed first. The deceased and I had a glass of toddy in the sitting-room, and his bedroom was off that room, so that if any person passed in or out they would have to pass where I was sleeping. I think I went to bed about twenty minutes to twelve o'clock, and I heard nothing until Ann Fraßer awoke me by screaming out, and calling for me. She called for a light, but before getting one I rushed into the room to see what was the matter, and she told me that the deceased had killed himself, and asked me to get a doctor. I had no light, but I turned the window-blind right round, and I could see Mr Eees lying on the floor with, his head resting on a basin. Ann Fraser was holding his head up with her hand. I think this must have been between four and five on Saturday morning. I couldnot distinguish any blood, as it was too dark ; but Ann Fraser told me that "Pa had cut his throat." I went out three times to call Mr Finlay, who was sleeping in the store next our house ; but the first who came to our assistance was Mr Pain,who lives next door. When I went back the third time there was * light in the room. Mr Pain had by that time been in the house, and gone for a doctor. I saw nothing further until the doctor came, when I saw him biing Ann Fras6r out of the room, and put a coat round her, as she was undressed. I saw blood on the floor in the ' room, and also outside the door, as I had in I the dark stepped into the blood and brought some of ifc into the parlor on my feet. I locked the front door of the house before I went to bed.and also the door leading into the kitchen. When I got up I found both these doors locked as I had left them, and I am certain that no person could have got into tho deceased's bedroom without my having heard them. On Friday njorning I was called in to witness Mr EecB 1 . signature to a document, .whereby he transferred; his house to Ann Fraser. I saw him sign it,' and I signed it as witness. lam not aware why he transferred his house to Ann Fraser. I was- in the kitchen when he called me into the parlor, and asked me to witness his signature. I asked him what it was for, and he replied, " I am assigning this house over to Annie, and I want you to witnets it." I never heard the deceased threaten to himself, or that he had ever attempted to do bo, and Ann Fraser never told me that he had said he would destroy himself. Before he left on the Friday, I asked him why he was going, if anything was wrong', and he replied, "O, you know it is about Annie." I knew nothing about the aJFair. By a Juror — I was sent for by Mr Eees, and brought from" the beach, for the purpose of going to Melbourne with Ann Fraser, because she was delicate and generally very sick on board ship, and would not be able to manage the children herself. I do not know the cause why she was going. The deceased only told me that he wished her to go to Melbourne. We were to have sailed by the Gohenburg to-day.

Henri Pain — I am a lemonade manufacturer, residing in Mackay street. Between 4 and 5 o'clock on Saturday morning I was awoke by hearing the screams of a woman, and I went out to the door to see what was the matter. I heard some one Bay "he was dying," or words to that effect, and I then got on some of my clothes and ran out. I saw Mrs M'Lean outside and asked -what was the matter. She replied. " For God's sake go in," pointing to Mr Rees' house. I went right into the bedroom, and saw Mr Eees lying on the floor on his side, with a basin at his head, and Ann Eraser was holding his head up. , The moment I got into the room she said, " Oh, Mr Pain, he has cut his throat," and I then looked down to see what was the matter. I saw a frightful cut still bleeding in the throat of the deceased, and as I saw I could do nothing to it I ran for Dr Foppoly, and he returned with me. Tho moment we got back to the room I took Ann Fraser out. She had been holding the deceased's head over fkb lasin. The doctor and I shifted the body out of the blood, and laid it on its back alongside the bed. The deceased was by this time quite dead. I believe he was dead when I first went into the room. When we had Bhifted the body we found a razor lying on the floor in a pool of blood. I believe the razor now produced to be the same. The front door was shut, but the back door was open when I first • went into the house. The front door was not locked. I hay» known the deceased for five or six months, but never noticed anything i wrong with him. I live next door to the deceased's house, and I never heard a dispute between him and Ann Frazer ; they lived very quietly together. By Jurors— l do not think more than five minutes elapsed between the time I heard

the screams and the arrival of the doctor. I

last saw the deceased alive about half-past ten . o'clock on Friday evening. He appeared to KTse rather excited, or to have been drinking a little. He got from mo a bottle of soda-

'. water. i Sergeant Walsh— At twenty -five minutes to o'clock on Sunday morning;, the 7th inßt., J^a/rnan named Edward Fenwick called at tke rf:i?camp and said that Mr Eees. had cut his Jthroat. lat once proceeded to the house, and \ found the door leading into the bedroom *%. closed. I met Dr Foppoly in the parlor, and .. if he told me that Mr Bees w"as dead. I then -went into the room where deceased was lying. *»" He was lying on his left side, on the floor in

, front of the bed, with his head resting on two pillows. I saw that his throat was cut, and "^ there was a basin of blood, about half-full, ,* "near the centre of the room. I found the ■y. -_razor produced lying in a mass of coagulated ;'; ' 'blood on the floor; the handle of it was .-' pointing towards the room door. I observed '. '* that there was blood sprinkled about various .* articles of furniture in the room, particularly on the washhand-stand, and there was a mark of blood on one of the sheets of the bed near ■ "* the head. I searched the clothes of tk& deceased, and found on him fifteen papers and thirteen letters, a deed of assignment, a tent pound note on the Bank of New Zealand, two half-sovereigns, and 43 lOd in silver, seven keys, one small nugget of gold, one gold ring, pad other Bmall articles. Among the letters was the one I now produce ; it is dated the sth. July, 1866, and addressed to his brother, * W. C. Rees, Esq., Willianistown ; it is as fol- " lows :—": — " My doar William, — Through heavy expenses attendant upon goldfields, my position has become embarrassed to such an extent

that, to avoid anything unpleasant, I purpose committing suicide. Yomr attached brother, T. W. Eees." lam cot acquainted with tho handwriting of the deceased.

William. Stewart — I am accountant at the Bank of New Zealand at G-roymouth, and know tho deceased, who was agent for that Bank here. lam aware that ho was in difficulties witli regard to Ann Fraser, in so far as ib interfered wiqh his position in the Bank, but I did not know him to be in difficulties in money matters previous to his death. I havo since learned that he is indebted to siderable amount of friends of his own. I have made a rough, examination of tho books, cash aud'accounts, in the Bank, and so far as I have yet gone, I have found everything to be correct. For two» or three weeks bock I have noticed the deceased to be inattentive to business, unable to pay strict attention to anything, and quite absent. On Thursday last, tho sth instant., lie called me to him, and told me he was afraid he could not get quit of that woman, and ho knew that if she remained much longer there it would endanger his position in the Bank. He also said that he had gone twice into the bed-room of the Bank, and held one of the loaded revolvers to his head intending to have Bhot himself. I treated the affair in an off-hand manner, as I believed that he spoke under the pressure of his feelings, and advised, him to go and report himself to the manager and inspector at Hokitika, in order to have the affair settled regarding his separation from Ann Fraser. He said he would do this, and I told him to go home and I-would arrange about getting a horse for him next morning. I then bade him good-bye, and I saw no more of him until I heard of his death on Saturday morning. He did not come to the Bank on Friday. lam acquainted with his hand writing, and I can state that the letter now shown me was- written by him and bears his signature. m

James Davies— l am a merchant in Greymouth. I was well acquainted with the deceased, and enjoyed his confidence for some time past. We had many conversations regarding his position and affairs, the last of which was on Thursday, the sth mat. At his request we walked up the river, and he commenced the conversation by saying "I am nearly driven crazy," or words to that effect. I told him he took too dark a view of matters, and he asked my advice. I advised him to act with some decision with regard to Ann Fraser, and get rid of her ; but he replied that he had offered her everything, but she would not leave him. I advised him to livo in his own room at the Bank, and if she came to annoy him to give her in charge of the police. He said he was afraid of her ; he could not do that ; and if ho did not owe myself and others §ome money he would leave his situation and leave the country, but he wished to pay his debts. There was some further conversation, during which the deceased talked very foolishly about being nearly out of his senses ; but he promised to do something decisively either that day or the next. He came into our store on lart Wednesday evening, when Ann Fraser came inafter him, and abused him very much with, her tongue, and compelled him to go home with. her. I met him on Friday coming back from Hokitika, when he said, in answer to a question I put to him, that he had changed his mind at the Teremakau, where he met Mr Tronery, and thought he would ride bacK with him. He made an engagement to meet me that evening about eight o'clock, but he did not keep it, and I next saw him dead in his room. I know that the deceased and Ann Fraser lived " a cat and dog life," constantly quarrelling. She was very jealous, and let him have no peace. I have seen Ann Fraser lift, a tumbler and threaten to throw it at him, and the deceased told me several times that she threatened to use a knife to him, and he was afraid that she would do it. I have not heard him make use of a remark of that sort within the last month. During the last three days the deceased was alive he appeared to me to be much out of his usual state, very much, excited and eccentric. £! Dr C. Foppoly— On Saturday at half-past four o'clock, I was aroused by Mr Henri Pain, who asked me to run immediately down to the house of Mr Rees, who, he said, had cut his throat. I immediately went down and found Ann Fraser holding the deceased's head, and calling loudly, ' Take him from me — I cannot hold him any longer.' I examined a wound in his neck, and found it was a large incised -wound from eav to ear, severing almost entirely the upper part of the windpipe, both of the jugular veins, the arteries, and muscles. The direction of the cut was slightly oblique at the wind-pipe. The blood had ceased to flow, and life was extinct. The body was a litttle warm on the chest ; but the brow waß almost cold. Tho wound could have been inflicted either by the deceased himself, or by any other person, but there was no sign to show by whom it was committed. There were no other marks of violence on the body. The cut was a very clean, one, much cleaner than it could possibly have been had it been done by another person, and there had been any resistence on the part of the deceased. I have before seen as deep selfinflicted wounds.

This finished theevidence.

The Magistrate summed up, commenting upon the evidence at length, and putting it to the jury to say, first, whether the deceased cut his own throat, and second, whether at the time of his doing it he was in his sound mind, or was laboring under temporary insanity. Tha jury returned a verdict that the deceased put his throat while laboring under a fit of temporary insanity.

Poisonous Water. — What killed Dr Hodgkin? Impure water. We wonder that travellers do not carry with them a few drops of parmagnale of potas, a few drops of which would speedily purify any water. A friend of ours, who Has just returned from India, tells us that he has derived the greatest benefit from its employment. In cases wheae the water was turbid, and tasting and smelling of decaying organic matter, the addition of a few drops of the solution of the permagnate made it in a few minutes as clear and sweet as spring water. — " Medical Times and i Gazette."

The Difference. — Bill Triplett a son of " old Kentucky,' 1 many years ago emigrated to Arkansas, and lived in a kind of hand to mouth sort of way, till finally he was reduced to the extremity of borrowing all the ready cash he got hold of. One day he went to Fred Trapnall — of whom he boasted as an old fiiend, and who was a whole souled fellow — and asked the loan of ten dollars. Fred was a a candidate for the Legislature on the Whig ticket, but Bill was an inveterate Democrat. When he asked the loan on this occasion, Fred said, ' Bill, how does it happen that when you want money you always come to me, but when I'm a candidate you are always opposed to me ?' This ought to have been a poser, but Bill was smart. Said he : 'Fred, look at me right good! I'll* tell you: Politically I'm opposed to you, financially I'm your friend 1'

A curious menage has just been established in the Jardin des Plantes. In an iron cage have been placed a young honess, an Algerian wild boar, and a little dog. This last is quite the master, the lioness generally amusing herself with teasing the boar. When, however, the lioness goes too far, tho dog interferes and ro-esfoblishoa order.

Almost Satisfied.— One day, not long since, the accommodation train from Cleveland to Columbus had a convict on board, who was being taken by an officer to the penitentiary, located at the lastnamed place. The prisoner, was covered with a cloak, which concealed from view the shackles upon his wrists. He sat, slightly bowed, looking very glum, and probably reflecting upon the rather narrow prospect before him. A Yankee on the train had his curiosity particularly excited by what he inferred to be a considerable weight on the spirit of the convict, so he approached with the intent to elicit, if possible, such information as would gratify his curiosity. The following are the questions he propounded, and the answers thereto :— 4 Goin' to Klumbus?'— ' Yea' (gruffly).— * Goin' any further ?'— ' No.'— ' Goin' ter stop in Klumbus ?'— ' Yes.'— 1 Goin' ter see any friends there?'— 'No.' —Goin' te do enny kind of work there?' — « Yes.' — ' Goin' to start business on yer own hook ?'— ' No.'— 1 What are ye goin' there for?' — 'Going for 'seven years.' — The Yankee's curiosity was almost satisfied.

The eruptions in the Bay of Santorini continue their phenomena in a noisy way, without any danger to observers for the prosent.