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.
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