A somewhat serious accident happened on Saturday afternoon to Mr William Thompson, who is, well known as the late licensee of the Criterion Hotel. He was engaged in doing something to the embankment at the rear of Farley's Hall, and fell from a plank, a distance of some 25ft or 30ft, on to a brick footpath below, striking a stout wooden fence in his passage to the ground. On being picked up it was discovered that he had sustained a severe blow on the crown of the head, one of his arms had been hurt, and he was suffering from pain internally. He was conveyed to his residence and attended by Dr Wanless, who found that he was suffering from concussion of the brain and severe internal injuries. -Otago Witness, 29/6/1888.
SUICIDE IN DUNEDIN.
A WELL-KNOWN RESIDENT SHOOTS HIMSELF.
[BY Telegraph.] [United Press Association.] Dunedin, 27th September.
William Thompson, a retired publican, committed suicide early this morning by shooting himself with a revolver, the muzzle of which he placed in his mouth and then fired. The reasons for the suicide aro not known. He was a widower, with no family, but he had adopted two boys whose father died some years ago. He was in very comfortable circumstances, though it is understood he had sustained losses recently. He at one time kept the Red Lion Hotel and afterwards the Criterion. On retiring he advanced money to various institutions on condition that the interest was paid during his lifetime, the principal not to be repaid at all. The Masonic Hall, it is understood, had money on these terms, and also the defunct Freethought Lyceum, in which he took great interest. Deceased, on retiring on Saturday, appeared as cheerful as usual. This morning he told one of the boys he had adopted to keep up the fires in the vinery. He said he had been a little worried about a Supreme Court action which came up in Chambers on Friday, when a summons was applied for, calling on Thompson and Brow, as trustees of the late Charles Roberts, to show cause why a statement of accounts should not be filed. Thompson submitted himself, and expressed his readiness, but stated all the books were in Brow's possession. Brow did not appear. It is somewhat singular that the pistol which Thomson used is the same with which Roberts committed suicide. -Evening Post, 28/9/1891.
The adjourned inquest touching the circumstances attending the death of William Thompson was held at the residence of the deceased at half-past twelve to-day. The same jury were in attendance.
Dr Hocken deposed: I knew the deceased moderately well for the last three or four years. I never attended him professionally in that time. I was called to see him on Sunday morning, and arrived hero about a quarter to nine. I found him in his bed, the bed clothes and his night clothes being undisturbed. There was no sign of disturbance in the room. Blood had streamed down over his face upon the pillow. His left hand lying across his chest. His right was by his side in the bed, and in it was the pistol produced, lying loosely in his hand. It was uncocked, apparently recently discharged, and in the trigger were two or three hairs, which had evidently come from his moustache. Both hands were blackened as though with smoke. There was no smell of powder. Immediately behind his head, and quite within reach, was the cartridge produced. On examining his mouth, I found the his pallet broken right through, a hole about the size of a shilling penetrating it, and extending right into the brain for a distance of six inches. It was evident to me, from the fact that there was black on both hands, that he had covered his mouth with his left hand, holding the pistol into his mouth with the right, so that the noise would not be heard. The body was warm and supple, from which I judged that he had not been dead more than two hours, if as long as that. The wound was one that could have been self-inflicted. The last time I spoke to him was about six weeks ago. I would not expect from his temperament that he would commit suicide while in a sane mind. From the peculiar opinions he held of life, I think he would hold his life very cheaply.
To the jury: If a person receives an injury of any kind to the head, drink or excitement such as I believe he has been subjected to of late might cause a depression of spirits proportionate to the mental trouble. The trouble he has had recently, joined with the injury he received three or four years ago, would give a sufficient explanation of his doing this act.
Franz Beissel deposed that deceased had been a customer of his for many years. He got shaved last Saturday night about halfpast nine, and also had his hair cut. Witness had a conversation with him, but nothing particular was said. He seemed in good spirits, and witness saw nothing wrong with him. He did not speak about personal matters. Witness never saw him in better spirits.
This concluded the evidence.
The Coroner said he did not think the jury would have any difficulty in coming to the conclusion that the deceased came to his death by his own hand. If they came to this conclusion, the next matter to decide was the state of hi? mind at the time of the act. There was certainly not much evidence to show that anything was wrong with his mind, but there was this: that he was a man who appeared to be in good circumstances, that an action was brought against him, that he said he did not care about the money matter in dispute; that his solicitor cheered him up and told him that in all probability he would gain the case, and that if he lost it was of no consequence to him. For all that, however, deceased thought very much on the matter, and made it a sort of fixed idea, which was shown by what Mr Bills had said — viz., that once in the greenhouse deceased said to him "If it wasn't for having this to attend to I believe they would drive me mad." That went to show that he had the matter constantly in his mind, and that he had allowed it to dwell so much on his mind that it had unhinged it.
The jury, after a retirement of five minutes, returned the following verdict: — "That the deceased William Thompson shot himself dead while in a fit of temporary insanity." -Evening Star, 29/9/1891.
The funeral of the late Mr William Thompson, which will be a Masonic one, will start from the Masonic Hall at 3 this afternoon. -Otago Daily Times, 30/9/1891.
It is understood that the will of the late William Thompson leaves everything to the Benevolent Institution, which it benefits to the extent of about £3500. All the members of the family are cut, to the general surprise, as his declared intentions were in a contrary direction. -NZ Mail, 9/10/1891.
William Thompson lies in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.
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