DUNEDIN, November 14.
Alexander Russell, a painter, twenty-one years of age, committed suicide by hanging himself early this morning. He complained of feeling queer last evening, and said that he had wandered as far as Mosgiel without knowing how he got there. No other cause save temporary insanity can be assigned. -Star, 14/11/1903.
SUICIDE BY HANGING.
The body of a young man named Alexander Russell, a painter by trade, was found hanging in an outhouse in King street at an early hour on Saturday morning. Russell, who was only 21 years of age, lodged with a Mrs Ledgerwood, in King street, and returned home about 9 o'clock the- previous evening. He then complained of feeling queer in the head, and stated that he had found himself at Mosgiel with his bicycle in the afternoon, but could not account for how he got there The next morning, about: 7 o'clock, the body of the unfortunate young man was found hanging in an outhouse used for keeping bicycles in by another lodger named Saul. The body was immediately cut down, but life was extinct, though the body was not then cold. Russell's parents reside at Wetherstones, close to Lawrence.
An inquest on the body was held at the Morgue at 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon before Mr C. C. Graham (coroner) and a jury of six, of, whom Mr William Mackay was chosen foreman.
James Lincoln Ledgerwood, presser, Great King street stated that he was a distant relative of the deceased, whose body he identified. Deceased was about 20 years of age, and was a painter by trade. Deceased lived with witness. Witness last saw deceased alive on Friday morning, the latter being then apparently more cheerful than usual. Deceased left home to go to work as usual on Friday. He had never, so far as witness knew, shown, any symptoms of being low-spirited or out of health until Friday night. Deceased did not return home from work at the usual time, but when witness went home about 11 p.m., after being out at North-East Valley in the evening, his wife informed him that deceased had returned home about a quarter past 9 o'clock, and had gone to bed, stating that he was wet and did not want any tea. Deceased afterwards informed witness's wife that he did not know what had gone wrong with him; that he had gone for a ride on his bicycle, and had found himself at Mosgiel. Deceased was unable to account for the fact. He stated, however, that he was all right then, and asked for a cup of tea. A cup of tea and some scones were given to deceased, who told witness's wife not to worry, because he was all right. Witness went into the deceased's room about midnight, when deceased appeared to be sleeping peacefully. When witness got up about 7 o'clock on Saturday morning he noticed that the door of deceased's room was open, and on looking into the room he found that deceased was not there. Witness looked in the house and shed, but did not see deceased. Mr Saul, who lived with witness, went out to the bicycle shed, and discovered deceased hanging there. A neighbour was called in, and the body, which, was hanging by a rope, was taken down. The body was cold, but not stiff, and deceased was quite dead. The body did not quite touch the ground. A small box was on the floor, near the place were deceased was hanging. So far as witness knew deceased had never drunk a glass of liquor in his life. Deceased had intended to start training for bicycle racing on Monday night.
Arthur Saul, painter, who lodged with the previous witness, stated that he had known deceased for about nine months. Deceased was generally in good health, and witness had noticed nothing extraordinary about him. Deceased returned home about a quarter past 9 o'clock on Friday night, and after putting his bicycle in the shed remained in the scullery for about five minutes, and then went upstairs to bed without speaking to anyone. Witness afterwards took a cup of tea and something to eat upstairs to deceased, who informed witness that he had been working late. Deceased's manner was at that time peculiar, but witness did not think he had had any drink. Witness went upstairs again afterwards; and found that deceased had closed the bedroom door. Witness heard deceased coming down the stairs at a quarter past 5 o'clock on Saturday morning, but he thought at the time that the footsteps were those of Mr Ledgerwood. On ascertaining that deceased had gone out a search was made, and witness found the body in the bicycle shed. Deceased must have taken the keys of the shed from the kitchen.
The Jury returned a verdict that deceased had committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity. -Otago Witness, 18/11/1903.
Much sympathy was felt for Mr and Mrs Russell and family, of Wetherstones, when it became known in Lawrence on Saturday afternoon that their son Alexander, aged 21, who had been working at his trade of a painter in Dunedin, had committed suicide. On the evidence adduced at the inquest, it appears that up to the Friday previous, when he complained of feeling queer and of having unaccountably found himself at Mosgiel on his bicycle, he had been in ordinarily good health. Deceased, who had learned his trade with Mr Winn, of this town, was an excellent tradesman, and was, we believe, under engagement to return to Lawrence at an early date. The interment took place at Lawrence on Monday afternoon, the funeral being largely attended. The service at the grave was impressively conducted by the Rev. J. A. Will. -Tuapeka Times, 18/11/1903.
No comments:
Post a Comment