Strange Suicide.
Dunedin, October 28.
Eliza Jerram, who resided with her husband at North East Valley, committed suicide by shooting herself with a revolver at 5 o'clock yesterday evening. Just before that time there was a little girl in the house with her, and she sent the girl out to call on a neighbour, telling her not to come back to the house. When Jerram, who is a retired clerk, reached home he found his wife lying dead in the bedroom. -Nelson Evening Mail, 28/10/1887.
SUICIDE IN THE VALLEY.
What appears to have been a determined suicide was committed in the North-east Valley late yesterday atternoon. Elizabeth Jerram, wife of Charles Jerram, residing in a cottage in Buccleugh street, Duddingstone, sent out her only daughter, Elizabeth, at about half-past three, telling her to go and find her father and ask him to come home at once. Elizabeth was also instructed to ask her father to bring one of the neighbors home with him, but she was told that she need not come back with her father. Mr Jerram was found in town, and having received the message he immediately hurried home. On entering the house he found his wife lying on the floor in one of the back bedrooms. She was, Mr Jerram thought, in a fainting fit, and he hurriedly despatched a messenger for Dr Ogston; but it was discovered on looking at the face that the left eye was wounded, and on the medical man arriving he announced that life had fled; Mrs Jerram had doubtless shot herself while no one else was in the house. No report of a pistol was heard by the nearest neighbor (Mrs Lomax) whose house is about fifteen yards away from Mr Jerram's; but this is easily accounted for, as the revolver with which the deed was committed is a very small one, the cartridge being no larger than the top of an ordinary-sized lead pencil, and consequently the report would not be very loud. As the bullet passed through the eye, death was probably instantaneous. Mrs Jerram was about thirty years of age, and with her husband had lived in their present house for the past twelve or thirteen years. She was a woman of a peculiarly quiet and retiring disposition, and was not often seen out excepting for a walk with her daughter or husband. The girl, an only child, is about nine years of age. It is difficult to assign a reason for the committal of the act; it was certainly not pecuniary difficulties, for Mr Jerram, who is a retired insurance clerk, is tolerably well to do. We understand, however, that Mrs Jerram had been in low spirits for some time past, and had been attended professionally by Dr Ogston.
THE INQUEST
was held this afternoon at Mr Jerram's residencc bieore Coroner Carew and a jury of six, of whom Mr W. J. Prictor was chosen foreman. The following evidence was given:
Charles Jerram: I identify the body as that of my late wife, Elizabeth Jerram. She was a native of Worcestor, England; and had been in New Zealand about twenty-one years. We should have been married eleven years next December. Dr Ogston had attended my wife lately. He was here several times — the last time about the 21st of last month. I had noticed that she was depressed in spirits— sometimes more than at others. The depression of spirits continued after Dr last visit, but it was not so bad. I left my home yesterday about half-past eleven or twelve to go to town. Had been in the house all the morning previous to going to town. My wife got up yesterday morning at the usual time — between eight and nine. She seemed much better in spirits than usual. She knew that I was going to town. She wished me to go when it was spoken about, and I was to bring an umbrella back for her. She either said that she would meet me as I came back or that we would go for a walk, afterwards — I forget which. I left town to return at a little before half-past two, coming by the tram-car which stopped at the Gardens. My daughter was with me; I had met her in the Octagon. She said on meeting me that her mother had sent her up for me, and I was to go back with Mr Schlotel. She also told me that her mother said that she was not to come into the house with me. I forget the words, but they were to that effect. The tram was just passing, and we came away at once. On getting out of the tram I came straight home; I did not go to see Mr Schlotel. It was about three o'clock when I got home. I ran round to the back door, thinking that it might be open, but it was not; so I went to the front door and opened it with my own key. Going into one of the spare bedrooms I saw Mrs Jerram lying on the floor. I called to the child to run over for Mr Schlotel, and to telephone for the doctor. Mr Schlotel was a friend of ours. I thought at that time Mrs Jerram had fallen in a fit and struck herself, for a piece of the top bar of the fireplace was broken. I saw that something was wrong with the left eye. Mr Schlotel came shortly after the message was sent to him. He was the first person to come in. Dr Ogston was the next. I had noticed just before Mr Schlotel came in that a revolver was lying by my wife's side; it was close to her right hand. It is my revolver. It was kept in a drawer in my bedroom. I have had it for years. It was not kept loaded; the cartridges for it were kept locked up in a tin box of which I had the key. [Witness explained that there was another key in the house that would open the box, but he was not sure that it was one belonging to his wife's bunch of keys.] I identify the keys produced as those kept by my wife. During her periods of depression she would worry about little things —such as the child being away at school, but she did not suffer from delusions. Dr Ogston did not say that a nurse was necessary. The room in which she was lying when I came home was not disturbed, and both of the outer doors of the house were locked. I think the front bedroom window was open, but am not sure.
By Constable Walker: There was nothing disturbed in any part house.
By the Coroner: My wife and I lived on the very best terms; and never had any differences. I should like to add that my daughter told me her mother said that I was to come into the house with Mr Schlotel; that I was not to come in by myself. My daughter did not come into the house with me.
Dr Ogston deposed that he professionally attended Mrs Jerram from the 18th to the 21st of September. He attended her for acute hysteria — a form of insanity. He attended her for about four days. She suffered from intense depression and sleeplessness, and refused her food. Believed the danger had passed when he left her. When he saw the body yesterday it was still warm. Death had taken place less than an hour previously. He found a wound on the inner side of the left eye, not touching the eye-ball. It extended straight backwards, horizontally, with the body in a standing position. He passed the tube in about four inches; the hole extended as far as the brain. A Tranter revolver was lying by deceased's side; it was unloaded, but one of the chambers had been recently fired. Witness searched and found other bullets corresponding with the chambers of the revolver. One of these bullets would make such a wound as he had described. From the position and direction of the wound it was quite possible that deceased might have fired the shot herself. When attending her witness did not notice anything to indicate that deceased had suicidal tendencies, but that form of insanity is specially dangerous. He had cautioned the husband that Mrs Jerram wanted watching. About a month ago the attack seemed to pass away, and he had no further apprehension. He thought that she was cured of the first attack, but there must have been a recurrence of it. — By the Jury,: Mr Jerram seemed to be very careful and attentive, and I do not think he neglected his duty in not watching her. Ladies suffering from hysteria often say more than they mean.
Elizabeth Jerram, daughter of the deceased, stated that her mother complained yesterday of a pain in her head. She did not take any luncheon, and said that she did not want to talk. She appeared to be restless.
E. J. Schlotel said that the deceased twice remarked to him that she feared she was going mad. That was the night Dr Ogston came to attend her.
Constable Walker also gave evidence and the jury returned a verdict that deceased shot herself while in a state of temporary insanity. -Evening Star, 28/10/1887.
Elizabeth Jerram lies in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.
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