Thomas Mortimer Cassidy, (1859-28/5/1916). "somewhat eccentric"

A telegram from Cromwell this morning states that Thomas Cassidy, a wool classer. well known throughout Central Otago, committed suicide in a determined manner, having evidently cut his throat and then jumped into the river. The deceased was always somewhat eccentric.  -Dunstan Times, 29/5/1916.

Death of Thomas Cassidy.

An inquest concerning the death of Thomas Cassidy, whose body was found in the Lindis river on 28th ult, was held at Lindis Crossing on Monday last, before Mr R. D. Polson, J.P., acting coroner, and a jury of six. From evidence given it transpired that the deceased was employed by Mr P. McDonald, runholder. He had dinner as usual on Sunday, and appeared in his ordinary frame of mind. About 3.30 p.m., he intimated to another employee that he intended to walk down to Lindis Crossing (a distance of over two miles) to arrange some business, and would probably not return for tea. His employer saw deceased leave the homestead about 4 p.m. At 5 p.m. another resident, A. King, while riding alongside the river, noticed a body in the water, and immediately brought it ashore. It was that of deceased Cassidy, and there was a severe wound in his throat on the left side. Life was not extinct when the body was carried ashore, as there was a slight movement of the lips and eyes, but death followed almost immediately. On the following day an inspection was made of the river bank and deceased's overcoat and an empty razor case, identified as that owned by deceased, were found at a point about 300 yards above the footbridge. The razor was not found. It is presumed the deceased entered the water and inflicted the wound which caused his death. The evidence further indicated that deceased was embarrassed financially. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased was in financial difficulties which evidently preyed on his mind and that he committed suicide while in a lapse of temporary insanity. The remains were interred in the New Cemetery on Wednesday last. 

The deceased, whose age is given as 57 years, has been a resident in the Central district for a great many years, and followed the occupation of wool-classing, in which he was regarded as an expert.  -Cromwell Argus, 5/6/1916.

Cromwell New Cemetery. Photo from CODC.