At about 20 minutes to 8 o'clock last night a man named Joseph Allwood, a cabdriver, who resided at Logan street, St. Kilda, committed suicide by cutting his throat, in a loose box in his own stables. A few minutes after the deed was committed the matter was reported to Sergeant Brown and Constable Willis, who on arriving at the stables found Allwood quite dead, with his throat cut from ear to ear. It appears that the deceased had just previously returned home from Dunedin in a tram car, and he is said to have been perfectly sober. A note written in pencil was found in his coat pocket, giving his name and that of his father, together with the words. "This to my wife." The body has been removed to Hutton's Hotel at St Kilda for the purpose of an inquest. -Otago Daily Times, 28/11/1895.
THE ST. KILDA SUICIDE.
An inquest on the body of Joseph Allwood, cab driver, who cut his throat at his place of residence in the Bay View road on Wednesday evening, was held before Mr E. H. Carew (coroner) and a jury of six (of whom Mr P. H. Prady was chosen foreman) at Hutton's Hotel, St. Kilda, at midday yesterday.
Janet Allwood, wife of deceased, said her late husband was born in Nottinghamshire, England, was over 30 years in the colony, and was 67 years of age. Lately he had been suffering from inflammation of the lungs, and on Monday he consulted Dr Batchelor, who recommended him to go to the hospital, but he preferred to stop at home. Her husband drank occasionally, but not of late, they sometimes had disagreements, and he was very irritable yesterday morning. He went to town on business in the morning, and witness never saw him alive afterwards. The horses were brought back to the stables by James Michael, at 2 o clock in the afternoon. Deceased was in financial difficulties, having had a meeting of his creditors about 12 months ago. His circumstances had not improved since then, but had gone back. It seemed to worry him much, and he often used to say he was tired of his life. The letter produced was in her husband's handwriting. It read as follows: — "My name of Joseph Allwood, son of Henry Allwood, farmer, Sutton, in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England. This through my wife." Witness did not understand the meaning of the last sentence. On Sunday evening his mind wandered, and he commenced .to talk nonsense. She was not a teetotaller.
To Sergeant Brown: Deceased drank heavily, for a number of years. On Saturday evening she gave him some rum hot. There was no disagreement between them on Tuesday evening. Yesterday he commenced to sharpen a white-handled knife on a stone, and on witness asking him what he was doing that for he replied "For a purpose." She asked him for the stone and the knife, but he said "You can have the stone but not the knife." The knife produced was the same. It was a two-bladed pocket knife. She denied that she had gone for the police frequently during the past 12 months. She heard that Mr S. G. Smith had a mortgage on the cab and harness, and that he took it over yesterday. The man Michael brought the horses home without the cab and harness.
Henry Thomson, drag proprietor, said he occupied part of the same stables as deceased did Last evening witness was told that Allwood was ill in his loose box. He went to the box, and saw deceased resting on his elbow. Witness asked him how he felt, and he said "Very bad." On asking him to go home he said "By and bye," and witness then left him. About two or three minutes afterwards he heard a fall in the stable and a young man named Patterson rushed to the stable at once. Patterson called out "Harry come in. Joe has cut his throat." Witness went into the stable and saw deceased lying down on his back, with Patterson holding his head up. He was bleeding freely from the throat, and witness immediately telephoned for the police. It was a fact that deceased and his wife quarrelled a great deal, and he (witness) knew that that trouble was on his mind.
Alexander Patterson (painter) and Constable J. C. Willis also gave evidence
Alter consultation the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while temporarily insane." -Otago Daily Times, 29/11/1895.
Mr S. G. Smith writes to us in regard to the recent inquest at South Dunedin: — "I did not take possession of the cab and harness of the late Joseph Allwood as stated by one of the witnesses. Allwood owed me money, but he always paid me as he could. I always found him honorable." -Evening Star, 4/12/1895.
Joseph Allwood lies in an unmarked pauper's grave in Dunedin's Southern Cemetery.
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