SUICIDE OF MR HOOPER, AN ACTOR.
[BY TELEGRAPH. — OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
DUNEDIN, Sunday.
J. R. HOOPER, the actor, well-known in Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch, committed suicide by hanging at his residence here last evening. When the body was found life was quite extinct. It is believed that the cause was destitution and low spirits, having been out of employment several months. His wife, Miss Bessie Vivian, is at present with the dramatic company in Christchurch. -Auckland Star, 22/8/1881.
SUICIDE.
A most distressing and determined case of suicide occurred on Saturday afternoon in Regent terrace, off Filleul street, the victim being the well-known actor James A. Hooper. The circumstances were reported to the police at about six o'clock by Joseph Charles Farquharson, who stated that the deceased (who had been living with him) had committed suicide by hanging himself. The first intimation he had of the affair was through a note in the deceased's handwriting left on the table, in which the deceased stated: "You will find me in the coal-house." Farquharson at once proceeded to the place mentioned, and there discovered Hooper suspended by a strong piece of rope placed round his neck and attached to the beam. His legs were tied with the same rope that suspended him, and his hands with a necktie, whilst his feet just touched the ground. The body was cut down by Constable Lyes, and Dr Martin summoned to attend but it was found that life had been extinct for several hours. The immediate cause of the deceased's act cannot be positively ascertained, but there can be little doubt that it is attributable to some extent to a disagreement that recently occurred between himself and his wife (who is well-known in theatrical circles as Miss Bessie Vivian). She, it appears, left here for Christchurch about a week ago as a member of the Willis-Hamilton Company. Letters passed between them, and on the morning of the event one was received by the deceased which evidently influenced him to some extent in his rash act. Mrs Wall, a neighbor living in the vicinity, states that the deceased called in to sec her in a very nervous and exciteable state at about one o'clock. He said that he had received a letter from his wife, from which he read several extracts. Amongst these passages wad one in which she said that she had received his (deceased's) cruel letter, and another that she should not be returning to Dunedin. Deceased told Mrs Wall to tell no one of the letter, and refused to take anything to eat. He left immediately afterwards, and probably went straight to the house and committed the act. The door of the shed in which deceased hung himself is open at the top, and he was seen during the morning to nail a piece of sacking over it. Deceased is said to have been in pecuniary difficulties, and to have been out of regular employment for some time, his last engagement being with Mr Leake, as Horatio, in "Hamlet." No doubt these difficulties also somewhat influenced him in his action. To-morrow has been fixed for the inquest, to allow of deceased's wife attending; if she is unable to get here so soon, it may be delayed until the following day. -Evening Star, 22/8/1881.
INQUEST.
An inquest was held at the Douglas Hotel this morning before Mr Hocken (District Coroner) and a jury of twelve, of whom Mr Sligo was chosen foreman, on the body of James A. Hooper, who committed suicide last Saturday afternoon by hanging himself.
The Coroner said: This is the case of James A. Hooper, an actor, who committed suicide last Saturday by hanging himself in the coalshed of a house off Filleul street. I have purposely postponed holding the inquiry until today, so that the deceased's wife might be present. She has telegraphed to a friend to take charge of the funeral, and from that it appears evident that she does not intend to come. It is for you to decide whether the deceased was in a sound state of mind when he hung himself. Evidence will be called to show that there was trouble in the family, and though I do not think it wise at an inquiry of this kind to enter fully into family matters, sufficient evidence will be given to enable you to come to a decision.
Joseph Charles Farquharson: I am a fishmonger in Maclaggan street. I used to stay with the deceased — whom I have known for for three or four years — of a night. He was about thirty-four years of age, an actor, and of the Church of England persuasion. I believe he was married. On the Friday night before deceased committed suicide I slept with him. He appeared to be in good spirits. He had been low spirited and depressed often previously. This I ascribed to a disagreement that had occurred between himself and his wife, and to his being out of employment. About a week ago, at the time deceased's wife went to Christchurch, he said to me that it would soon be over. He put a rope with which he was tying up a box over his head and drew it tight round his neck. I took the rope from his hand. I believe that he did it to frighten his wife. The deceased did not appear to be low-spirited on the Saturday morning. He was waiting for a letter from his wife. When he got it he said to me: "The wife has left me." I went with him tp the Athenian, where I parted from him to go to the Port. On my leaving he asked me to call and see him in the evening. I did so, and on getting into the house found the note produced, which is in the deceased's handwriting. The note is as follows: —
Good-bye. My death at your door. Let my sisters know. I am in the coal-shed. Sad end. You have played well and gained your point. J. A. Hooper.
I went into the coal-house on getting the note, and there I found the deceased. He was suspended by the neck from a beam with a strong rope. His hands and feet were tied, and he was just touching the ground. I noticed that a cloth had been nailed over an aperture in the coal-house door. I gave information to the police, by whom he was cut down.
Cecilia Vale: I live in a right-of-way off Filleul street, and have known the deceased for about seven years. On Saturday last at about noon he came to my house in a very excited state, and showed me a letter received by him that morning from his wife. He said "Oh, my God, my wife has left me," and read me some extracts from the letter. He was not intoxicated; but I thought that he was suffering from the results of drink.
Mary Gibb: I live in a house adjoining the deceased's, and saw him in the right-of-way coming home about a quarter-past twelve last Saturday. I left my house on seeing him, and when I returned — about an hour afterwards — I notified that he had nailed a piece of cloth across the upper part of the door of his coal-shed.
Constable John Dwyer: At about five o'clock last Saturday I was called to the deceased's house, and on arriving there found him hanging from the cross-beam of the coal-shed. I cut him down at once, but found him to be quite dead. I searched him and found the letter produced in his trousers pocket. It is as follows:
Mr Hooper.
Sir, After the manner in which you have behaved to me for the last three or four years, and the last three or four months in particular, you surely could not be astonished at my being glad to leave you. I have received your cruel, bitter, and almost wicked letter since I arrived in Christchurch. I received only your beautifully insulting telegram in Timaru. Did you think to expose me to the ridicule of all the office boys? You way say you did not know what you were saying. That is no redress to me. You seem to think you can insult me as you think proper, and I should not murmur, but forgive you in a moment. That I cannot and will not do. Even your letter of pleading is not free from contemptuous insult. You ask me now we are to manage? Don't count upon my assistance in the future in any undertaking whatever, as I really don't know what I am going to do. You say you have asked Willis, and he can give you no hope; nor can I. I do not know what I am going to do yet; but this I know, that I will not come to Dunedin to live in that house again with you; and as for writing to say I did not intend leaving you, I will do nothing of the kind, for I told you so myself. I could not do it, and I would not, if had to starve. [Then followed some private matters.] I shall keep your telegrams and letters as a sample of what you could write, and also to show anyone that it may concern, and to ask their opinion of a man who could write such a letter to a woman he professes to love. I have had to pay 1s for the telegram, l0d for the brooches, and 4d for the first-written insulting letter, making in all 2s 2d — a her dear for a showirg up through the telegraph office and a bullying in a letter. However, I don't mind, as it has shown me what your real feelings are. How about all your friends that were so eager to assist you when I had gone? It is, as I told you, all talk, my boy; and as for people saying I had two men — one fair and one dark — to see me off, how should I have gone but for them? You were not there to see to my things, so I think it was very kind of them to help me. You also say Mrs Golden will not give you a thing. That I cannot help. I did not think you would ask her, when I left you L1 & 3 in the drawer. I had better to have kept it. I could have made a proper use of it. I don't expect to be engaged with Pomeroy; therefore I should not be able to send you any more money, as I can't leave myself and Etta without, especially as you don't know how to spend it, and I can't afford to pay for your drinks any longer. I daresay you will say I am rather hard, but I mean it. You have rubbed me in the dirt long enough, and I will stand it no longer; so I hope you fully understand me. And now I must conclude by saying I do not care for people's reports. In future I shall care for myself and my child, and no one else. You asked me not to write to you; but I could not help this time, but will not offend again. So to conclude by using your own words — I remain, yours truly,
Lizzie.
I found no other effects upon the deceased.
The Coroner (to the jury): I think there can be no doubt that the deceased committed suicide and it will be for you to decide whether the letter received by him from his wife, and the other circumstances connected with the case, did not produce a state of temporary insanity that occasioned him to do so. It is not for you to judge as to the quarrel between the deceased and his wife, which is private, and the circumstances of which we do not know. The letter written by the wife may appear a cruel one; but if all the facts in connection with it were known a very different color might be given to it. It is, therefore, not for you to pass any opinion on this matter. The jury found a verdict that the deceased committed suicide by hanging himself whilst in a temporary state of insanity. -Evening Star, 23/8/1881.
James Hooper occupies an unmarked pauper's grave in Dunedin's Southern Cemetery.
No comments:
Post a Comment