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.
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