Arthur Kennedy, 1840-20/9/1869. "not under the influence"

One of the most determined suicides it has been our painful duty to record occurred on Monday last, at Clyde, the victim of self-destruction being Mr. Arthur Kennedy, Sheep-inspector for the northern districts. He had been unwell for the past week, but was thought by Dr. Niven, who had been attending him, to be getting quite convalescent. About three o’clock on the day of the sad catastrophe the deceased, Dr. Niven, and others, were taking a walk on the terrace between the camp and the town, when he suddenly ran from them down the bank and precipitated himself into the current. A hue and cry being raised a number rushed to the rescue. Among the foremost was Mr. Frank Foote, Cobb’s agent, who heroically plunged into the water and caught hold of him, but was unable to maintain his hold owing to the persistent struggles of Kennedy to free himself. After buffeting about for a short time Foote receive a blow from Kennedy’s feet which separated them, when Foote returned to the shore much exhausted. The deceased continued floating down the stream in an upright position, evidently trying the while to drown himself, as had he in the least struck out for the shore, he could not have failed to reach it. At length, after floating down the stream for about two hundred and fifty yards, he sank. The body has not yet been recovered. This melancholy event, following within a few hours of the death of poor Stewart, cast a gloom over the whole town.  -Dunstan Times, 24/9/1869.

An inquest was held at the Dunstan District Hospital, on Tuesday last, before Vincent Pyke, Esq., Coroner, on the body of Arthur Kennedy, who, it will be remembered, drowned himself in the Molyneux on the 20th September last. From the evidence of Dr. Niven it was proved that deceased was laboring under temporary insanity at the time, and was not under the influence of drink, either at the time of his death or previously. Evidence was 1ikewise taken of John McKay and Frank Foote, to the effect that they had endeavoured to rescue the deceased from the water but without avail. The verdict given was in accordance with the medical evidence. A rider being added to the effect that Messrs. McKay and Foote deserved great praise for their courageous efforts to save the deceased.  -Dunstan Times, 15/10/1869.

Clyde cemetery.