Alfred Samuel Cottrell, (1852-18/6/1881). "everybody has been kind"

SAD CASE OF SUICIDE. 

[ UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, 19th June.

Frank Cottrell, who was barman at the Industrial Exhibition, committed suicide last night about midnight by jumping off the wharf. He had been discharged that night, and, having a wife at home confined to her bed, be became low spirited. He left his pocket-book on the wharf, giving his name and address. He also left his upper clothing. The body was found to-day.   -Evening Post, 20/6/1881.

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Wharf Hotel, Rattray street, this morning, before the City Coroner and a jury, touching the death of Alfred Samuel Cottrell, whose body was found under the Rattray street wharf yesterday. Mr J. E. H. Harris appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of the relatives of the deceased.

John H. Cottrell, storekeeper in George street, deposed: The deceased, Alfred Samuel Cottrell, was my nephew. He was twenty-nine years of age at the time of his death, a native of London, a barman by occupation, and a Protestant by religious persuasion, He leaves a wife and one child without means, He has been in this Colony seven years. He was naturally of a very cheerful disposition, but when I saw him on Saturday night he seemed low-spirited. His wife has been seriously ill for the last three weeks, and this made the deceased despondent. He had been out of employment a good deal lately. He was a man of temperate habits. The note-book produced I recognise as the deceased’s. In his handwriting there is a memo. “I cannot live. Everybody has been kind to us all. Mr Low has discharged me to-night for no fault of mine. I love my wife, mother, and sisters heartily. I live at Mrs Walker’s, Leith street. My name is Alfred Cottrell,” He took home on Saturday night the sum of L3, having been paid off by the Exhibition Committee

John Cottrell, son of the last witness: I saw the deceased at half-past eleven on Saturday night in St. Andrew street. He was coming from the direction of his house. I asked him if he was going for a walk, and he said “Yes." I then passed him, and went home. He has been low-spirited lately in consequence of his wife’s illness. 

Thomas Low, in charge of the refreshment booth at the Garrison Hall, stated that the deceased had been working for him. On Saturday night he discharged Cottrell, but on the man representing the state of his wife’s health witness agreed to see what could be done for him on Monday (this morning). Deceased then went away apparently in good spirits.

Alexander McMillan, watchman on the Rattray street wharf, deposed: The deceased passed me about midnight on Saturday between the two lower sheds. When I was opposite the Beautiful Star I heard a splash, and called out “Man overboard." On going to the end of the jetty I saw a hat, coat, and vest on the wharf. A boat with grapplings was soon out, but no trace of a body could be seen. From where I found the clothes to the nearest vessel would be about 200 yards. 

Sergeant Haldane gave evidence as to finding the deceased’s body in the water a few yards from where the clothes were found. 

The jury found that deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity.  -Evening Star, 20/6/1881.

Alfred Cottrell lies buried in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.

Peter Hodge Kirk, (1853-19/5/1881). "I am not insane"

SUICIDE IN DUNEDIN.

[united press association.] Dunedin, This Day. 

Peter Hodge Kirk, an expressman, committed suicide by hanging himself last night. On his body a letter was found, stating that the cause of the act was his separation from his wife and family. Last week his wife sued him for maintenance. The letter added, "I suppose the jury will bring in insanity, but I am not insane, and never was."  -Evening Post, 18/5/1881.

INQUEST.

An inquest was hold at the Panama Hotel to-day, before the Coroner and a jury of twelve, on the body of Peter Hodge Kirk, who was found hanging from a swing yesterday morning. Mr Weldon watched the proceedings on behalf of the police. 

John Robert Brookes, newspaper runner, stated that about five minutes to seven yesterday morning, as he was coming down the footpath of Mr Call's garden, near the top of London street, he observed "something like a man on a swing." After giving information to a constable, he returned and found the man in the same position as when he first saw him. 

Constable Hackett stated that on receiving information from the last witness that a man was hanging in a yard at the top of London street ho proceeded to the place and found the deceased hanging in a child's swing. The body was hanging about 3ft from the ground and was quite cold and stiff when cut down. Against one of the posts of the swing was placed a pair of steps. One end of a piece of clothes line was tied round one of the ropes of the swing, and the other end was around deceased's neck. On searching the body a receipt was found, on the back of which was written in lead pencil the following:

"I love my wife and my dear little Jennie and Bertie, but old mother Wilson has taken them from me, so that my Mary will be a servant to them. Its all through her advice that Mary left me, instead of trying to mend matters she always went between us. She tried to separate us before this, and has done so at last. Without my wife and children I cannot live. I never intended to go to Melbourne. I told Bain at Port what my intentions were. I suppose the jury will bring in 'insanity,' but I am not insane; nor never was. As I write this I see a policeman going into the house, so I am off; good-bye. 

"Peter H. Kirk." 

Amongst other things he found a razor in the deceased's coat pocket. 

Robert Kirk said that the deceased was his brother, and was at the time of his death twentyeight years of age, a native of Fifeshire, and a Presbyterian by religious persuasion. Deceased's wife had told him that she had been quarrelling with her husband. He last saw deceased alive about ten o'clock on Sunday fortnight, when he wished to speak to witness about some promissory note. Deceased had never said anything to him that would lead him to suppose that he intended to commit suicide. The writing on the document produced was that of his brother.

Mary Kirk said that the deceased was her husband. He had attempted to commit suicide a dozen times, and on the 2nd of December of last year he was prevented by Sergeant Deane from hanging himself under the Water of Leith bridge near the Pelichet Bay railway station. He was addicted to drink, and whilst under its influence he would secrete scissors and knives about his person. Last Thursday night while drunk he opened a razor and flourished it in her face, threatening at the same time to cut her throat or anybody else's if they touched him. She left him about a month ago, and last saw him alive on Friday last between twelve and one o'clock, He called for his son, towards whose maintenance he had been ordered to contribute but had never done so. There was insanity in his family. 

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased had committer suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.  -Evening Star, 19/5/1881.

Northern Cemetery, Dunedin. Photo from "Findagrave."

 

Agnes Weir, (1842-6/11/1880). "the meekness of a dove"

A Mrs Agnes Weir, wife of John Weir, of Mornington, was received into the Hospital on Friday afternoon, having taken poison with the expressed intention of committing suicide. She died in the Hospital, where an inquest will be held to-day at noon. Her husband, we understand, used some kind of poison for the purpose of curing skins for mats, and in this way she obtained it.  -Otago Daily Times, 8/11/1880.

An inquest was held at the Hospital on Nov. 8th, before Dr Hocken, coroner, and a jury of 12, to elicit the circumstances attending the death of Agnes Weir, who poisoned herself by taking a dose of arsenic at Mornington on Friday morning last. It appears from the evidence that the deceased was found by her husband, John Weir, vomiting and in an exhausted state, about 10 o'clock. He at once brought in a neighbour named Mrs Lockhart and the woman was ultimately sent to the Hospital. Weir said that he had a few words with his wife the previous night, and that she had admitted taking the poison in consequence. He described her as one possessing "the meekness of a dove and the ferocity of a tiger, but withal a fine woman." She had previously threatened self-destruction, and on one occasion swallowed some sulphate of copper. According to the testimony of Mrs Lockhart, Weir was using foul and abusive language to his wife when she arrived on the scene. The deceased said that she had been an ill-used woman all her life, and that it was on account of her husband calling her names the previous evening she had taken the poison. The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity, and the Coroner addressed Weir as follows: — "The Jury wish me to say to you that they consider the condition of mind spoken of in this verdict was caused by your own abusive language towards her, and they also consider that you are worthy of censure for not taking more care of this dangerous poison, knowing that she had frequently threatened to commit suicide, and had on a previous occasion actually taken poison. In that censure I concur."  -Otago Daily Times, 3/12/1880.

Agnes Weir lies in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.

John Mullins, (1835-23/9/1880). "his domestic troubles"

CITY POLICE COURT

Maintenance. — Mary Mullins charged her husband, John Mullins, with refusing to contribute the support of herself and their two children. — Defendant was ordered to pay 20s per week towards the support of his wife and 5s per week each for the children; in default of any payment twenty four hours’ imprisonment.  -Evening Star, 26/3/1878.

Suicide. 

A man named John Mullins committed suicide to-day. About two o'clock, he was found lying on the reclaimed ground near Stuart street jetty suffering great pain, and the persons who discovered him procured him some water to drink and sent for a doctor. Dr. Maunsell was speedily in attendance, but he believed that Mullins was dead when he appeared on the scene. Mullins was formerly in the army, having served in the Land Transport Corps during the Crimean war. He arrived in the colony several years ago, and started in the blacksmith trade, having his place of business at Tokomairiro. For the last few years he has had no workshop of his own, but has worked intermittently at various smithies in Dunedin. Owing to his want of steadiness he was not in constant work. Deceased was fifty years of age, and leaves two children. He is supposed to have taken strychnine.  -Globe, 23/9/1880.

The Coroner held an inquest upon the body of John Mullins yesterday, Mr Marsh being foreman of the Jury. The witnesses examined were Mrs Mullins, Sergeant-major Bevin, John Murdoch, and Robert Farquharson. The circumstances elicited corresponded with those previously published. Mullins was a North of Ireland man, 45 years of age, and an Episcopalian. Speaking to Mr Farquharson, a Veterinary surgeon, on Tuesday, he mentioned that he would rather take poison than go to gaol (having been summoned by his wife on a protection order). On Wednesday he spoke to Sergeant-major Bevin, but, although he seemed depressed in spirits, said nothing of any intention of suicide. About 1 o'clock Mr Murdoch found him near the bay, lying groaning, and in answer to questions he said he had taken strychnine. Murdoch went for a doctor, but when he returned Mullins was dead. Upon him afterwards was found a notebook, in which he had written, evidently just before taking the poison, some disconnected remarks about his domestic troubles, and about having had no peace since he was married. He was given to drinking. It is believed that he had had the strychnine in his possession, having been accustomed to doctor dogs and so forth. The Jury found a verdict that Mullins committed suicide by taking strychnine whilst in a state of temporary insanity.   -Otago Daily Times, 25/9/1880.

Alfred Goldsmith, (1847-1/5/1877). "I heard a loud row"

Alfred Goldsmith, of Caversham, committed suicide yesterday morning by hanging himself with a clothes line on his bedroom door.  -Evening Post, 30/4/1877.

INQUEST.

Mr Coroner Hocken and a jury of twelve, of whom Edward Holmes was appointed foreman, held an inquiry at the Hospital today touching the death of Alfred Goldsmith. The following evidence was taken:-

Theresa Maria Goldsmith: The deceased, who was my husband, was named Alfred Goldsmith. We lived at Kensington, and had been married about three and a half years. My husband was a laborer, and a native of Sussex. He was about twentynine years of age at the time of his death. He was not at work last Saturday, owing to the rain, but stopped at home and did odd jobs about the house. On the Friday evening he seemed very low-spirited, and I fetched some beer, some of which he drank and then went to bed. On Saturday evening he went to the store, and on returning to the house asked me if I would have some brandy. I replied “Yes," and he went and fetched a shillingsworth, of which he drank about a third. He afterwards gave me a pound note and told me to get a bottle of brandy, adding, “Don’t spend all the pound.” I did not see him take any of the brandy from the bottle, but I had some and then went to bed. This was about twelve o’clock. He shortly afterwards came to bed, and kissed me, saying “God bless you.” This was his usual custom, and I did not then nor during the whole of the Saturday notice anything peculiar about him — he was apparently in his ordinary health and spirits. On Friday he was low-spirited, but I have seen him like that before, though I did not knew the reason. About two years ago he was sitting looking at some trees, when he remarked to me, “Theresa, what a fine tree that would be for a man to hang himself on.” I said, “Alfred, what would your father and mother think of you if they heard you speak like that.” After I had been in bed some time — I cannot say how long — I was awoke by hearing a great noise, and, on looking up, saw mv husband hanging by a rope round his neck to the bedroom door, which was half-open. He was struggling and making a noise. His feet were some inches from the floor. I jumped out. of bed and screamed out, “Oh God! Alfred,” and then cut the rope and let him fall on to the floor. He was not sensible then, but was breathing. I then ran to Mrs Miller and Mrs Attywell and told them what had occurred, and someone went for Dr Cowie, but before he came life was extinct. When I cut deceased down I rubbed his body to try and do him some good. I know of no cause why he should commit suicide. He was a very temperate man. Sometimes I take a little drop too much, but that would not depress the deceased — indeed he would have been the first to give it to me. There was a little case, which was used as a seat, near his feet when I saw him hanging. — To a juror: Deceased was my second husband, and I have no children by him, but we lived very happily. 

Elizabeth Attywell; I live at Kensington, next doer to Mrs Goldsmith’s, Between one and two o’clock yesterday (Sunday) morning I heard a loud row going on in Mrs Goldsmith’s house. There was no one in their house but themselves. In about an hour afterwards I heard some noise as of a body falling on to the floor, and immediately afterwards Mrs Goldsmith came and screamed out, “Murder; my husband has hanged himself.” I went with her into the house, and saw the deceased bolstered up with pillows against the bedstead. The rope was hanging to the door, and a brandy box was behind it, with a lighted candle on it. I saw the mark of the rope on deceased’s neck. Mrs Goldsmith was talking incoherently to the deceased, who was not then dead. He lived for some minutes after I went into the house, but was insensible. I rushed out of the house in my chemise, and alarmed the police. I last saw deceased alive at 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, when he seemed to be in good health and spirits. Mrs Goldsmith frequently took too much liquor, and had been drinking heavily for a fortnight before this occurrence. Deceased was a very quiet man, and I think he took to heart the intemperate habits of his wife. I always considered him a healthy man, and of sound mind.

Dr Cowie: About five o’clock yesterday morning I was called to see deceased, and upon getting to the house saw him propped up against the bed. Life was extinct, and I should think he had been dead about an hour. There was a deep mark on the right side of the neck, apparently caused by the pressure of the rope. So far as I could judge Mrs Goldsmith was sober.

Elizabeth Miller, a neighbor of Mrs Goldsmith’s, said: Between nine and ten o’clock on Saturday night I went in to Mrs Goldsmith's The deceased came in bringing a number of articles among which was a shillings-worth of brandy, which his wife had told him to fetch. Mrs Goldsmith had some of the brandy, which she ordered her husband to give to her. She was a woman of intemperate habits, and ordered deceased about like a dog. I saw Goldsmith at about one o’clock on Sunday morning, when he was perfectly sober and in good health. I then went to bed, and some time afterwards was awakened by hearing Mrs Goldsmith screaming out that her husband had hanged himself. I thought she was under the influence of the drink. Deceased had not a very happy life with his wife, who used to tell him to go up country and get out of her sight, and all sorts of things. 

Constable O’Brien, stationed at Kensington: At twenty minutes past four yesterday morning Mrs Attywell called at the station, and said that Mr Goldsmith had hanged himself. I went across to the house immediately, and saw deceased sitting on the floor of his bedroom with his back leaning against the side of the bed. I saw that he was not quite dead, as his eyes were moving, but he was insensible and breathing very slowly. He was undressed, and had nothing on but his shirt and flannel. I looked at the door which was pointed out to me as the one from which the body had been cut down, and saw the rope produced (a piece of threestrand stuff about the size of an ordinary clothes-line) suspended from it. A loop was hanging over the top of the door, and a part of the rope which had been cut off was lying on the ground. The knot by which the line was hitched was drawn tight, as if a heavy strain had been put upon it. I have known deceased for about three weeks. He was a quiet, inoffensive man; but his wife was of drunken and dissolute habits. 

The Coroner: There seems to be no reasonable doubt but that the deceased committed suicide by hanging himself, and the question therefore for you, gentlemen, to decide is whether or not he was temporarily insane at the time the deed was committed. The evidence is to the effect that he was a man of quiet, sober habits, but I question whether the conduct of his wife — who, it has been shown, was addicted to drink — was not enough to drive him temporarily mad, and to cause him to embrace any means of getting rid of the misery into which her excesses plunged him. I think that a verdict of temporary insanity would be the most charitable and just one that you could return.

After a short deliberation the jury unanimously found “That deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity" and the Coroner thereupon called Mrs Goldsmith into the room, and, after explaining to her the verdict, admonished her in a few well-chosen words to abstain in future from drink, which had been the cause of so much misery to herself and the means of bringing her unfortunate husband to an untimely end.  -Evening Star, 30/4/1877.

Alfred Goldsmith lies in an unmarked grave in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.

Ah Wong, (1835-24/4/1877). "in his next life"

Please note: the attitudes to Chinese people presented here are those of teir day and a presented as such.  I do not share them.

DUNEDIN. 13th March.

A Chinaman named Ah Wong hanged himself in Stafford-street last night.   -Evening Post, 14/2/1877.

SUICIDE.

Mr I. N. Watt, Acting-Coroner, and a jury of twelve, held an inquest at the Hospital at noon to-day on the body of Ah Wong. 

Wong Ming (whose evidence was interpreted by Wi Yak) deposed that he knew the deceased. He was forty-two years of age, a butcher by occupation, and had been seventeen years in the Colony, Witness last saw him alive at 3 o'clock on Monday afternoon. He was then in a Chinese cabinetmaker’s shop in George street. Witness next saw him hanging by the neck in the house of the Chinese doctor in Flinders Lane, off Stafford sheet. He was quite dead. The paper produced with Chinese characters on it witness found on a table in the house. The writing was by Ah Wong. It stated that he came to the Colony seventeen years ago. He had bad luck and owed too much money. He had no money and was going to die. His parents reared him up as big as he then was and he could not go home to see them. He was afraid to live in Dunedin, and would sooner be a devil than a man. He owed money and could not pay it, but would in his next life. The letter was written to a brother in China. On discovering the deceased hanging, witness gave information to the police, and the body was removed to the hospital. 

Constable Oliver stated that at 11.35 p.m. on the 12th he was informed by the last witness that there was something wrong in the Chinese lane. Witness found the deceased hanging in the door in Chin Sang’s residence. He immediately took down the body and found it was warm. Sergt, Barry then came in, and Dr Cowie was sent for. When he arrived he pronounced life extinct. Deceased hanged himself with the sash produced.

Dr. Cowie deposed that about 11.45 p.m. on Monday last he was called to see the deceased. He examined the body and found life to be extinct. The deceased had probably been dead from an hour to an hour and a-half. 

A verdict of felo de se was returned.  -Evening Star, 14/3/1877.

 We were apprised the other day that a Chinaman, named Ah Wong, having hung himself in Otago, the jury returned a verdict of felo de se. Deceased left behind him an explanation, which ran as follows: — "Came to the Colony 17 years ago, but had no luck and did not make any money. Owed too much money. Having no money, will hang myself and die. My parents brought me up as big as I am now, and I can't go home to see them. If I remain in Dunedin, I am afraid every day, and would sooner be a devil than a man. I owe people money and can't give it to them back. I owe it this time, but next time I live I will pay it. To die is nothing. I have a brother in China to whom I would like this sent." On this philosophical and businesslike statement the jury concluded that deceased was of sound mind. And yet, it is almost certain that if any European had followed Ah Wong's mode of temporarily giving his creditors the slip, and left behind him a similar epistle, the same jury would unhesitatingly, on the evidence of such a letter, have returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide while of unsound mind. That which is regarded as proof of the Chinaman's sanity, would be regarded as equally convincing proof of madness in a person of European race. Could a greater compliment be paid to Chinese philosophy, or a stronger belief in its genuine and cool-headed character, as contrasted with some other systems, be expressed than that contained in the verdict upon this simple Chinaman, who preferred to be a devil rather than be plagued by Dunedin duns?  -Press, 21/3/1877.

 There must be something honest and conscientious after all about "that heathen Chinee." One Ah Wong recently hanged himself at Dunedin. He left a sort of dying speech and confession in writing before he did the sus per coll business. This document stated "that he (Ah Wong) had come to the colony seventeen years ago. He had bad luck and owed too much money. He had no money and was going to die. His parents had reared him up as big as he then was, and he could not go home to see them. He was afraid to live in Dunedin, and would sooner be a devil than a man. He owed money and could not pay it, but would in his next life." The creed of "Ah Wong" puzzles us. He intended to pay his debts contracted in this world "in the next life." We wonder what he meant by that. Did he mean that by-and-bye be would undergo a process of resurrection and come back from the other world, look up his creditors here and pay them in full — or did he mean that he would expiate his debts by undergoing an extra amount of punishment in "his next life." Poor, unhappy Ah Wong, thy conscience must have indeed been tender to think so much about your debts, when by aid of a silken scarf and a peg in a door you were about to suspend yourself and pay "the great debt of nature." And that all this honesty of intention should be found displayed in the ease of "a heathen Chinee," must put some "whitewashed" Christians to the blush.   -Evening Post, 23/3/1877.

The remains of Ah Wong lie in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.

Alexander Scott, (1849-6/12/1875). "a parting present"

A young man named Alexander Scott committed suicide in Dunedin on Sunday afternoon by cutting his throat with a pocket knife. He had formerly been a bank clerk, but had been out of employment for some time.  -Bruce Herald, 7/12/1875.

LOVE’S TRAGEDY.

Under the above heading the ‘Bruce Herald’ gives the following particular’s of the career of the young man Alexander Scott, who committed suicide in Dunedin on the afternoon of Sunday last:— A considerable time since he left Geelong, Victoria, where his father is a well-known timber merchant, and the owner of considerable property, to fill a position in the Colonial Bank, Dunedin. This he held, esteemed by all who knew him because of his courteous habits and gentlemanly disposition, up to within a few months ago, when, becoming involved in a love affair, in which he was unsuccessful, he rashly sought to drown the pangs of unrequited affection in drink. The result was his dismissal, a climax that only tended still further to exasperate him. His father at first allowed him a very handsome amount to meet his current expanses, L28 monthly it is said, but this was reduced to L16, and for the last two months the remittance, which was paid through an uncle, ceased altogether. Still it is averred he was not in want of money, but was able to pay his way, and he had the prospect of an appointment in the Harbor Department. It is just probable that his loss of employment, and the discontinuance of his allowance, tended to precipitate the fatal crisis. But those who knew him intimately, ascribe his sad fate directly, as well as remotely, to the fact that a young lady, with whom he had long been on intimate terms, and to whom it is believed he was affianced, recently married another. The knife with which he terminated his life was a parting present from an esteemed friend when leaving Victoria, another exemplification of the popular superstition that a sharp-bladed instrument forbodes ill-luck.  -Evening Star, 11/12/1875.

An intimate friend of the late Alexander Scott writes to say that the story that a love affair had something to do with his sad end is a pure invention. The statement published was made on what we believed to be good authority.  -Bruce Herald, 17/12/1875.

Dr Hocken, City Coroner, held an inquest at the Hospital on the evening of the 6th inst., touching the death of Alexander Scott, which had taken place under lamentable circumstances the previous day. — John Robert Cowie deposed that he had known deceased for fourteen years. He was twenty-six years of age, a native of Scotland, unmarried, and had followed the occupation of a clerk. His relations principally reside in Geelong, Victoria. He lodges in the house of Mrs Paget, Howe street, with witness, and of late had given way to excessive drinking, returning home in a state of insobriety almost every morning. On Sunday morning he came to witness's bedroom door, and asked him to get up, but he refused. Deceased again came, and commenced to burst in the door. Witness had a scuffle with him, and knocked him down. He still continued to annoy him; got a stick, and said he would horse-whip him, though they were the best of friends. Witness considered his conduct very strange, and he had a savage, peculiar expression about his eyes. He was evidently labouring from excitement produced by drink, though not drunk at the time. Witness saw nothing more of him until the time he was lying on the bed. Mrs Paget met him at the door after he had come from a walk in the afternoon, and begged that he would go to Mr Scott. The bed-clothes had blood on them, and deceased held up his head to look at witness, who immediately ran for a doctor. Recently he had cried at times, and mentioned that when he was wealthy it was his intention to go to Scotland; also, that his father was coming here in February. — The Jury, at the Coroner's direction, returned a verdict of suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity brought on by drink.  -Otago Daily Times, 22/12/1875.

Alexander Scott is buried in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.