Arthur Empson, (1852-11/9/1889). "heard voices and telephones"

DETERMINED CASE OF SUICIDE.

A most determined case of suicide occurred at Josephine street, Caversham, on the 11th ult. A man named Arthur Empson, who with his wife had recently come to reside at Darley, Caversham, got out of his bed and went into the kitchen to get some tea for himself, having previously knocked out of his wife's hand a cup which she had brought him. On getting into the kitchen he seized a large bread knife, and proceeded to cut his throat with it. His wife, seeing what he was about, ran outside and called for help to a neighbour, who on going to the door saw Empson with a terrible gash in his throat. He was so horrified at the spectacle that he ran off for assistance, and on his return the man was lying on the floor dead. An inquest was held in the afternoon, and evidence was adduced that the suicide, after inflicting wounds on the throat with the bread knife, then took up another knife with a sawback to it, and so desperate was he that he appears to have used the back part of it, and sawed right through to the back bone. 

Elizabeth Matilda Empson, wife of deceased, deposed that he was born in Yorkshire, England, and had been in New Zealand between 12 and 13 years, but had been away during that time. They had been married six years last March. Deceased had been travelling since last Christmas. They left New Zealand in March last, and came back again about the middle of August. They came to reside in Caversham about three weeks ago. Deceased had a run of his own at Rangitata at one time, and had been manager on a station in the Bothwell district, Tasmania, lately. Deceased had on several occasions been queer in his mind, but had never been in the asylum as a patient. He was sent to the hospital in Albany, Western Australia, suffering from insanity, and was detained there a week. Since coming to Caversham he had been in very good health, but during the last few days witness noticed that he became quiet, walked round and appeared nervous. He followed witness round wherever she went. He imagined he heard voices and telephones. This was the way he always went on when he went wrong in the head. On Tuesday he kept saying there was some one coming for him, but who witness did not know. He told witness that he had gone to town in the morning and posted two letters, and that her brother-in-law had sent the police after him for not drinking. Witness had a brother-in-law in Wanganui, but none in town. Later on he tried to stab himself with the scissors. Witness knew this by the blood on his shirt when they were going to bed about 10 o'clock. Witness asked him how the blood came on the shirt, and took hold of him. He said he did it when he fell against his scissors. These had entered the skin. At 9 o'clock on Wednesday morning witness took him a cup of tea to bed, and he threw the cup out of her hand and said he would get one for himself. He then got up and went into the kitchen, and as he was coming through he pulled off his trousers. On getting into the kitchen, he seized the bread knife and put it up to his throat as if to cut it. Witness did not think he was using the front of the knife till she saw the cut. He kept on sawing, and witness ran out of the house by the back door, and screamed out to her neighbour, Mr Waterstone, who came out at once and went to the door of the house. He then went away for someone. Witness went to the door with Mr Waterstone, and saw deceased with the knife still in his hand. When Mr Waterstone went away witness stayed out by the gate till the butcher and someone else came. They went inside, and witness saw the feet of deceased who was lying on the floor. Previous to this deceased had been standing up. He never spoke. Witness again Baw her husband when the constable came, and he was then dead. He had spoken about making an attempt on his life before, but had never tried to carry it into effect. He had said in Western Australia that he would cut witness' throat first and his own afterwards. He never gave any reason for saying this. Witness put the scissors, deceased's razor, and knives away on Tuesday night when she had found that he had tried to harm himself. Witness knew that there was insanity in the family. His cousin shot himself, and the mother and sister died not altogether sane. Witness was not aware that deceased had had anything to worry him of late. He was not in the habit of drinking to excess, but took a glass of liquor occasionally. Witness always considered that she was perfectly safe in living with deceased, and thought that she could manage him by means of persuasion. He very rarely spoke to anyone in Caversham, but would occasionally speak to things in the room and imaginary persons. Witness said to him that she would send for a policeman the next morning, when she saw the blood on his shirt on the Tuesday night. He said it would soon be over, but witness did not know what was meant by that. She did not think it necessary to place him under restraint of any kind. Witness had been using a bread knife in the kitchen before he came in. She never expected him to get out of bed and did not want him to do so, as he might rush down the street or do some such foolish thing. Witness did not think it was necessary to send for the police overnight, as she had seen deceased quite as bad before. He talked all night. By medical advice given on a previous occasion, witness was told to hide all knives away. The other knife produced was not a bread knife, but belonged to a set of kitchen utensils. It was hanging up in a frame, and deceased must have laid the bread knife down and taken the other one out. When first deceased came to Caversham he was fit to attend to business, but had not been so for the past few days. Deceased was 32 years of age.

John Waterstone, Constable Higgins, and Dr Coughtrey also gave evidence, and

The jury returned a verdict that deceased killed himself by cutting his throat while of unsound mind.  -Otago Daily Times, 2/10/1889.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

George Ward, (1865-7/1/1889). "he had spent it all"

DEATH BY HANGING.

George Ward, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years of age, supposed to belong to the Oamaru district, was found dead this morning, suspended by a rope made fast to a beam in a stable at the rear of Mr Reany’s Globe Hotel, Princes street south. Deceased had been boarding in the house for about four weeks past, and late on Saturday evening went out apparently for a walk. Since then he was not seen by anyone about the hotel until 9.15 this morning, when Archibald McArthur, who has been staying at the Globe for a day or two past, went into the stable for something, and found Ward hanging by the neck. McArthur at once called the landlord, who cut the body down and sent for the police. Dr W. Brown was also summoned, but an examination revealed the fact that the man had been dead for some time, the corpse being stiff and cold. No money was found on Ward’s person, but there were portions of a letter from his brother, who resides at Brookfield, Oamaru, from which it is gathered that deceased recently received some money from his brother; and this, taken in conjunction with the absence of money on his person, would show that deceased had been hard up. Ward told a person who spoke to him on Saturday afternoon that he had come from the Taieri, where he had been working on a farm. Ward was at that time perfectly sober, and had the appearance of a happy and temperate man. He was certainly not a drunkard. The motive that led to the perpetration of the fatal act may, perhaps, be disclosed at the inquest, which is appointed to be held to-morrow, at 11.30 a.m. The delay is caused by the desire to have his brother at the inquest. Meanwhile it would serve no good purpose to even guess at the cause or causes that prompted the hanging.  -Evening Star, 7/1/1889.

SUICIDE IN A STABLE.

An inquest was held this morning at the Globe Hotel, before Mr Coroner Carew and a Jury of six, of whom D. Henry was chosen foreman, touching the death of George Ward. 

Dr William Brown stated that when called to the hotel yesterday morning he saw the body in the stable. It was quite dead. Death must have occurred some hours previously. It was quite possible that deceased might have been in the stable all night. There was the mark of a rope round his neck. Witness saw the rope produced and also the piece of rope attached to the beam. The mark on the neck indicated that the rope had been put on during life. There was no external indication that death arose from any other cause than hanging. 

Thomas Ward, laborer, residing at Brookfields, Oamaru, identified the body as that of his brother, who was born in Shropshire, was twenty-four years of age, and had been in New Zealand nearly two years. Deceased was a laborer and a single man. Witness last saw him alive on the 7th of last March. Letters received from deceased stated that be was doing well in his situation up to the middle of November; but a letter written in December mentioned that he had left his situation and gone to Dunedin, adding that he had met with a misfortune and lost his money, and asking his brother to lend him some money that would keep him until he got into a situation. Witness sent L5, the amount asked for. Eleven or twelve days ago deceased wrote again, stating that he was not well enough to go to a situation, and asked for a similar sum to that sent previously. Witness sent him L4, but got no reply to the letter enclosing it. Deceased was not in any difficulties excepting in regard to the money, so far as witness knew. Witness had never heard of his brother being wrong in his mind, and could form no idea as to his reason for making away with himself. In one of his letters deceased said that he bad lost his money by getting into bad company. 

Archibald McArthur, miner, had been residing at the hotel for eight days, and had known Ward during that time. On Saturday night he was in the best spirits. Witness had never seen him the worse of liquor, and did not suspect that he was ill. On Monday morning witness found deceased hanging in the stable, fully dressed, his feet being four or five inches from the ground. Nothing that Ward ever said to witness gave the least clue to his reason for making away with himself. The body was cold and stiff when cut down. 

Joseph Reany, landlord of the Globe, said that Ward had been living at the hotel for about a month. He was a very steady man, strong-minded, and jolly, and the last person in the world witness would have thought of as likely to commit suicide. 

Harriet Palmer, residing in the hotel as cook until Saturday, last saw deceased alive at 4.5 p.m. on Sunday, at the Dunedin Railway Station. He said he was going to Oamaru to his brother, and if he did not go on the Monday witness was to see him in town. Deceased had threatened to do away with himself. He said so to witness on Saturday, adding that he was tired of his life. He had no money — he had spent it all — and seemed low-spirited, but promised witness that he would not do anything to himself. When Ward said that he would do away with himself witness did not at first think he meant what he said, but he repeated the statement two or three times, and then she began to be frightened that he would do something, though she said nothing to anybody about the matter. He gave witness the letters produced to mind for him. On Saturday night witness and deceased went for a walk out to the Ocean Beach, and he there threatened to make away with himself. He wanted to go into the water, but witness would not let him. She did not leave him that night — they were walking about the whole time — and she kept by him until five minutes past four on Sunday afternoon, when she left for Sawyers Bay. Ward was apparently quite right in his mind. They parted on friendly terms. 

Patrick Dwyer, landlord of the Southern Hotel, said that Ward went into that house about five o’clock on Sunday afternoon to ask witness if they had not met at Oamaru. He remained in the hotel chatting for nearly an hour, and seemed quite sane. He did not ask to be served with drink, and did not look as though he had been drinking. 

Constable Green had spoken to deceased on Saturday afternoon, when he seemed to be comfortable and happy. Among the articles found in his possession was a pawn ticket notifying that he had pledged his swag on the 5th inst. 

The jury returned a verdict that deceased killed himself by hanging, but that there was no evidence to show the state of his mind at the time he committed the act.  -Evening Star, 8/1/1889.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

Ebenezer Hay, (1850-20/4/1887). "some strong delusion"

SUICIDE OF A SOLICITOR.

(By Telegraph.) Dunedin, April 20. 

Mr E. Hay, the solicitor, committed suicide this afternoon by cutting his throat. 

LATFR. The suicide of Ebenezer Hay appears to have been most determined. He was living with his sister, who left him in the house. On returning she found that he had taken a basin to hold the blood and then hacked away at his throat, with a blunt knife, the basin being full of blood. He appears then to have gone to the bathroom, where the bath was found with blood and water mixed. His sister at once procured medical aid, and though when the doctor arrived Hay was pulseless, he tore away at the wound with his nails. He died shortly afterwards. He was a single man and had been indulging rather freely. It is supposed he committed the rash act while suffering under some strong delusion.   -Timaru Herald, 21/4/1887.

Ebenezeer S. Hay, the well-known solicitor, committed suicide yesterday by cutting his throat with a knife. He was a single man, and had published some sonnets which were highly spoken of.  -Lake County Press, 21/4/1887.

SUICIDE OF A BARRISTER.

We are sorry to have to record the death of Mr E. S. Hay, barrister and solicitor, from suicide yesterday afternoon. He had been in very depressed spirits for some time past, and since Tuesday was confined to the house. Hehwent to bed yesterday afternoon, and about half-past three o’clock it was found that he had cut his throat with a table knife. Drs Coughtrey and Stirling were immediately sent for; but, although the deceased was not dead, they were unable to save his life, as he had lost such a quantity of blood. 

THE INQUEST. 

An inquest was held by Mr Coroner Carew at the deceased’s residence, George street, this afternoon at three o’clock. 

David Rennie Hay, tailor, identified the deceased, who was thirty-seven years of age. He had been about twenty-two years in New Zealand. Witness last saw him alive at twenty minutes to twelve o’clock yesterday. He was suffering from want of sleep, and said he was mesmerised. Witness had brought a sleeping-draught for him, but could not persuade him to take it. Witness conversed with the deceased, but he was too exhausted to talk in his usual manner. He gave foolish answers to some of witness’s questions, and witness concluded that he was not compos mentis. Witness had not seen him for some days previously. It was owing to one of his sisters being out of town that the deceased was left by himself in the house. Witness had not the slightest idea that it was unsafe to leave him alone.

Isabella Hay, school-teacher, deposed that the deceased came home on Tuesday morning in rather an excited state. He appeared to have been drinking, and was under several delusions. Yesterday when witness came home from school for lunch she persuaded him to go to bed. She did not like leaving him, but did not think there was the slightest danger in doing so. He was very quiet. Witness went back to school, and returned home about twenty minutes past three. She immediately went to the deceased’s bedroom, and, finding the state he was in, went for Drs Stirling and Coughtrey. 

Dr Robert Stirling gave evidence as to finding the deceased in bed with a wound in his throat. The wind-pipe was severed, but the large blood-vessels were untouched. Witness found the table-knife (produced) in the bedroom. Witness sent to Dr Coughtrey, and they put a silver tube in his throat. The deceased lived for some time, but finally succumbed to hemorrhage. 

The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity.  -Evening Star, 21/4/1887.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

James Young, (1857-1/12/1883). "shun them; shun them"

Dunedin, This day. James Young, a watchmaker, committed suicide at South Dunedin on Saturday. The deceased arrived in the colony four months ago from Great Britain by the British King. On his arrival he went to live with his uncle, Mr Cunningham, at South Dunedin, and became attached to one of Cunningham's daughters, but his suit was discouraged by his uncle. A short time since deceased went to Outram, and there opened a small shop as a watchmakcr and working jeweller. On Thursday he came to town, and met Miss Cunningham, who declined to have anything to say to him. After this he loafed about town drinking, once or twice spoke of committing suicide. On Saturday, about two hours before he shot himself, he told a young woman at Kensington that he had been badly treated, and that he would do so owing to Cunningham. At 10 o'clock Cunningham was told what the deceased had said, and sent for the police, who were in the house, and were making inquiries at the time that Young fired the first shot. The first shot seemed to be fired into the throat. The deceased ran from the building, and fired again, the second shot penetrating his right breast.  -Daily Telegraph, 3/12/1883.

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at South Dunedin this afternoon on the body of James Young, who shot himself on Saturday night last; Mr Coroner Hocken presiding. 

Peter Cunningham, living in Melburn Btreet, South Dunedin, deposed that the deceased — who was a nephew — was twentysix years of age, a native of Glasgow, and a watchmaker. He was unmarried, and had been in the Colony four months. Last Saturday night, about half-past nine o'clock, witness was sitting in the kitchen with his family and Police-sergeant Macdonnell, when he heard the clicking of a revolver. All ran into the passage, and a shot was heard immediately afterwards. A second shot was fired, and Sergeant Macdonnell went out and discovered that the deceased had shot himself through the chest. Deceased died in about a quarter of an hour before the services of a doctor could be obtained. For some time past deceased had been very troublesome to witness's family. He was desirous of paying his addresses to witness's daughter, but was discouraged in his idea. Witness would not countenance him. On the day of the cattle show he asked witness whether any proposal from him would be received in twelve months, but witness said he would not countenance him if he waited twenty years. There was no insanity in the family, but deceased was rather weakminded.

Susan McLachlan, living in Grosvenor street, Kensington, gave evidence as to being at Mr Cunningham's on Saturday night and hearing the two shots. In the morning deceased had been to her father's house, and she noticed that he was very excited. He wanted to have a rest, and, pulling a revolver out of his pocket, told witness to begone, and that if she allowed anyone to enter it would be death to him. He said that he had tried to take his life that morning, but his watch had saved him, and also that he intended to kill himself that night. Witness tried to calm him, and while she was talking to him he fell down and went into a fit, foaming at the mouth. Witness went into town with him and asked him to promise that he would not carry out his threat. He replied "I don't know my own mind five minutes, so there's no use of making a promise." In the evening he came to witness's house and said he was going to fight a battle in Melburn street. Witness tried to get him to stop at the house, but he refused, and asked for some paper to write down what he wanted done with his possessions. Witness refused to give him any paper, and he pulled some paper out of his pocket on which he began to write. He wanted witness to take L7 with which to pay for his funeral, but witness refused. He was under the influence of drink, and when he left witness immediately went to the Cunninghams to warn the family, and Sergeant Macdonnell was sent for. 

The Coroner: I am sure I must say you have acted in this matter with great judgment and presence of mind. You have been placed in trying circumstances and you have done very well. Perhaps it is a pity information was not given to the police earlier.

Witness said that the deceased in the morning had promised to go to Outram where he lived, and as he appeared to have calmed down she thought there was no danger. He had frequently told her that life was not worth living. 

The Coroner: I am sure you have had a very anxious time, and you have done what a brave woman should do. 

Samuel Cameron, of Outram, said he had known the deceased from his boyhood, and he never knew him to indulge in liquor. When leaving Outram he promised to be back on Saturday night or Monday morning.

 The Coroner got the permission of the witness to read the following letter, which was found on the deceased: Mr Cameron, — I wish to give all people their due. You will find all the customers' watches in my chest below my clothes. Charge them, and keep it for your kindness to me. You will find two jobs in my pocket. The brooch belongs to McBride, and the ring to Palmer. Give them to them with my good wishes; and the Devil bless you, or God bless you, as you please. — Yours fraternally, J. Young.

P.S. — Realise my estate, and send it to mother,

Sergeant Macdonnell deposed that in response to a request by Mr Cunningham he went to his house on Saturday night. Witness was not there five minutes when a noise was heard outside, and two shots were fired. Witness went out and discovered that the deceased had shot himself. The following letter, Addressed to "the Reporter of the 'Otago Daily Times,'" witness found on the deceased: —

I have done the deed myself; it is all through love. Blame my friends for this deed; it is all their fault. They promised me their daughter's hand and then withdrew their consent. I therefore cannot live without her. Let all people who value true love shun them. They have been my curse through this life. Shun them; shun them is my last words. — Yours, eternally, James Young.

The jury brought in a verdict that the "deceased committed suicide while insane," and intimated that in their opinion Mr Cunningham was not to blame in the matter.  -Evening Star, 3/12/1883.

James Young lies in a pauper's grave in Dunedin's Southern Cemetery.

Henrich Longford, (1844-13/4/1883). "having some words"

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

What appears to be a determined case of attempted suicide occurred at South Dunedin last night. Henry Longford, living in a four-roomed cottage next to the Fitzroy Hotel, retired to his bedroom about half-past nine o'clock, leaving his wife and Mrs Maxwell, a boarder, in the kitchen. Shortly after the latter heard a shot discharged, and Mrs Longford in going into the passage found her husband with his hands holding his breast. A three-chambered revolver was found in the bedroom, and it was discovered that the man had shot himself in the breast, the ball narrowly missing his heart and lodging in the left lung. Drs DeLautour and Fergusson were quickly in attendance, but last night held out no hope of the man's recovery. The former was of opinion this morning, however, that there was a slight chance, although the man lies in a perilous state. Longford is forty years of age, and arrived from Bushy Point, near Invercargill, where he had been working, on Saturday last. He has since been employed at Messrs D, Reid and Co's wool-shed. The muzzle of the pistol appears to have been pressed close to the breast, and the theory expressed by the relatives as to its accidental discharge can scarcely be entertained. The three chambers of the revolver were loaded, and had remained so for some time — since Longford's return from a trip into the country.  -Evening Star, 12/4/1883.

The inquest on the Dane named Henrich Longford, who shot himself on Wednesday, was held on Saturday. The wife, after giving details of the occurrence, said she had been having some words with her husband about a young woman whom he kept company and corresponded with, and she supposed he was troubled in his mind in consequence. She blamed the woman for the trouble, for he was a very quiet man. The night deceased shot himself witness accused him of writing to this woman, and told him if he did not stop corresponding with her she (witness) would leave him. He promised not to write to her any more. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity.  -Ashburton Guardian, 16/4/1883.

Henry Francis Martin, (1865-14/12/1882). "a little to drink"

SHOCKING DEATH ON THE RAILWAY.

A frightful affair occurred last, evening on the railway-line near the Castle street crossing by which a young man named Henry Martin lost his life. At first the case looked undoubtedly like one of suicide, but upon a consideration of all the information which we have been able to gather it will be seen that there is some ground for believing that the fatality was quite accidental. 

The deceased was only eighteen or nineteen years of age, and was the only son of his parents, who reside in York place. His father is employed at the new gasworks in course of erection at Caversham. The deceased himself had worked at the Otago Foundry for about five years, and had during that time borne an excellent character for steadiness and sobriety. Yesterday, in consequence of the transfer of the foundry from the trustees in the estate of the late proprietors (Messrs Davidson and Conyers) to Messrs Palmer, Booth, and Co, there was an auction sale of stock on the premises, and a liberal supply of refreshments of all kinds was provided. Young Martin drank some spirits, and not being accustomed to take much he became slightly intoxicated, and at 4 p.m. was told not to mind his work but go home. He reached home about half-past five o’clock and told his mother that he did not feel well, and she advised him to lie down for a bit. When his father returned from work he went up to deceased’s room, and took his boots off in order to make him more comfortable. About half-past seven o’clock one of the neighbors went to the house and told Mrs Martin that she had seen young Martin get out of his bedroom window and go down the street. Mrs Martin states that she went after him and asked him where he was going, to which he replied: “For a long walk and a bath; it will do me good.” She thought that it would do so and accordingly let him go, and she saw him going in the direction of the Bay, where he used often to bathe. In the morning, however, he had not returned, and Mrs Martin on hearing that a young man had being killed at the Castle street railway crossing began to fear that it might be her son. On going with some friends to the Morgue her worst fears were realised, for the lifeless remains they saw there were those of her boy. She entirely discredits the idea that he committed suicide, and thinks that the effects of the drink he had taken must have made him so unsteady that he fell in crossing the line. 

The manner in which deceased came to his death will, pending the holding of an inquest, best be gathered from abstracts of reports by officials in the Railway Department.

Mr G. H. Ashcroft, station-master, reports to Mr A. Grant, traffic-manager, as follows: I have to report an accident last night, by which a man (name unknown) met his death. From the account given by Thomas Egley, Charles Bollo, and Donald McAuley, railway servants, it would appear to be a case of determined suicide. As the train from Palmerston, due at 9 p.m., was approaching the station, the driver noticed a man standing about three yards clear of the main line at Castle street crossing. He was apparently waiting for the train to pass, but when the engine was distant about four or five yards he threw himself deliberately forward with his arms extended. The brake whistle was immediately given, and the train pulled up in about fifty yards. The man was terribly mangled, and has not yet been identified; but the police were then communicated with, and they removed the remains to the Morgue. 

Donald McAuley, signalman, states that he was on the crossing until the train arrived at Stuart street signals, when he moved to hold the facing points situated about three yards within the fence on the station side of the crossing. He observed the man approach slowly from the street, and stop as if to allow the train to pass. When it was a few yards away the man put his arms to the sides of his head and fell forward on the line. He was immediately struck by the cow-catcher, which pushed him forward a little distance and then passed over him, and several carriage and waggon wheels also passed over the body. The driver of the engine had noticed that something was wrong, and pulled up the train within about fifty yards. About half of the train had passed over deceased’s body, which was found terribly mangled. 

Thomas Egley (shunter), employed at the crossing, says that he was standing with McAuley at the time, and corroborated his statement.

Charles Bollo, driver of the engine, states that he gave the usual warning whistle before nearing the crossing. He was going at a slow pace, being quite close to the station. When close on to the crossing he saw deceased throw himself across the rails, and immediately whistled the brakes down and stopped the train. 

George Course, guard to the train, says that just before reaching the crossing he heard the driver’s whistle to put the brakes down, and obeyed the signal. The train was going slowly, and was pulled up within fifty yards. 

An inquest was to have been held late this afternoon.  -Evening Star, 15/12/1882.

INQUEST.

The inquest on the body of the man Henry Martin, killed on the railway on Thursday evening, was held at the Morgue yesterday afternoon, before Mr E. H. Carew, S.M., and a jury of thirteen, of whom Thomas Broadway was chosen foreman. The jury having inspected the body, 

Edward Booth, foundry master at the Otago Foundry, was called, and deposed: I identify the remains as those of Henry Martin, who was in my employ. He left the foundry at four yesterday, at my request, as he had had a little to drink. That is the last I saw of him. He was unfit to work. I had never seen him suffering from drink before, though he had been in my employ five years. I have noticed nothing unusual or eccentric in him of late. I am quite certain that he was under the influence of liquor, as I could smell drink on him, and he staggered. There had been some drink on the works. 

Benjamin Martin (laborer), father of the deceased, said: I identify the remains as those of my son, who was between eighteen and nineteen years of age, I saw him last about five minutes past eight last night, when he left the house a little the worse for drink. I told him not to go out, but he said he would take a walk to cool himself. We never had a quarrel. There has not been the slightest change in his demeanor of late. I never knew him to taste drink since he was quite a little boy. He could walk quite well. The distance from my house to where the accident occurred is about half a mile. 

Thomas Egley, shunter in the Dunedin yards, deposed: I saw Martin about nine o'clock standing by the railway crossing at Castle street, within 3ft or 4ft of the rails. He was standing quite still, and I was about seven or eight yards from him. As there was a train from Palmerston coming I thought he was waiting till it passed by. When the engine came within 8ft or 10ft oh where he was the deceased threw out his hands and flung himself across the rails. I instantly gave the driver a danger signal, the brakes were put on, and the train brought to a standstill within about forty yards. I then proceeded to the body, which was lying under the train, after about ten or twelve trucks had passed over it. The body was much mangled, and I had to get assistance to bring it to the Morgue. It was not possible for me to save him, as the engine was so near. I did not speak to him. I took particular notice of him to see whether he would attempt to cross, and he appeared to deliberately throw himself across. He appeared quiet in his manner, as if waiting for the train to pass. There were no stones or iron to cause him to trip. The signalman was between us, about four or five yards from him. When he was approaching ho appeared to be walking steadily. I saw no female near to him at any time. 

Donald Macaulay, signalman, whose duty it was to look after the Castle street crossing, stated that he saw deceased, while the train was approaching, walk steadily to the crossing and stand a few feet from the rails, apparently waiting for the train to pass. The witness then detailed the occurrence of the death of the deceased exactly as given by the last witness. The train was travelling about five miles an hour, and was stopped as soon as possible. There was no time to stop the train before the occurrence took place. There are no gates at the crossing. He saw no one speaking to deceased, but there was a woman about after they were picking up the remains. 

Charles Bollo, engine-driver in charge of the nine o'clock train, deposed: On approaching the Castle street crossing from the North, about 8.58, I saw a man walk up to the line and stop — clear of the rails. He looked over his shoulder, and suddenly threw himself right across the rails, when the engine was about 6ft from him. I don't think it possible that he could have tripped and fallen. If I had known that he was suffering from drink I should still have the opinion that he threw himself across the line, I had a good light on the engine. As soon as I saw the occurrence I reversed the engines, and whistled for the brakes, which were put on immediately. We were travelling about six miles an hour, and three parts of the train had passed over the body before we had stopped. It was impossible to stop the train in time to save his life.

The Coroner, in summing up the evidence, said it was evident from the depositions that the man was suffering from what was very unusual for him — the influence of drink. It was possible that this being the only time he had drunk anything it might have taken an unusual effect upon him. It seemed strange that a man with no cares upon his mind should have deliberately attempted to commit suicide, and there was nothing to show that in an ordinary state he was of unsound mind, He left the matter in the hands of the jury. If they thought there was evidence of deceased being insane, a verdict should be brought accordingly; or if, in their opinion, it was a case of unpremeditated suicide, a verdict should be brought in in accordance with that view. It certainly seemed impossible that he contemplated suicide. 

After consideration, the jury returned the following verdict, — "That the deceased committed suicide by throwing himself across the rails whilst laboring under a fit of temporary insanity; no blame attaching to anybody."  -Evening star, 15/12/1882.

The unfortunate lad Henry Martin, who was killed recently at the railway-crossing, was buried on Saturday last. He appears to have been of very steady habits and to have been generally respected by his acquaintances, a large number of whom refuse to accept the idea that he committed suicide, and opine that a feeling of giddiness must have seized him whilst watching the approach of the train, causing him to throw his arms up to his head and fall. This is not an improbable theory, seeing that the lad was suffering from the effects of drink, to which he was wholly unaccustomed.  -Otago Daily Times, 19/12/1882.

Samuel Marsh, (1822-4/3/1882). "cast into the ocean"

FOUND DEAD.

Shortly before 6 o'clock on Saturday morning a man named Samuel Marsh, 60 years of age was found dead in a room at the back of one of Mr Russell's houses in Castle street. About 9 o'clock in the morning Marsh was seen through the open door of his room by two little girls named Annie Davies and Mary Hart. He was then kneeling at his bed in a praying attitude, and the girls, thinking he was engaged in devotional exercises, took no notice and went on their way. On passing the house again in the evening they noticed that the man was still in the same position, so the little girl Hart went and told her mother, and a man named Taylor was informed of the fact. Taylor at once went into the room and saw that the man was quite dead. The police were then called in, but did not touch the body until the arrival of Dr Copland. At the first glance it would seem as if the deceased had poisoned himself, for on a table beside him there were two phials marked "laudanum," both nearly empty, and another peculiarly shaped bottle containing some other soporific drug. The supposition that death had been caused by an over-dose of some of these liquids was strengthened on looking at the position in which the body lay. Dr Copland, however, gave it as his opinion that the immediate cause of death was not due to an over-dose of laudanum, though he stated that to all appearance the man had for some time past been slowly poisoning himself. This is no doubt the proper inference, for it has been ascertained that Marsh, who was in bad health for some time past, has been in the habit of doctoring himself. The room he occupied was at the rear of a house in which two families resided. His room presented a most disordered appearance, for besides the bottles above-mentioned, there was on the table a miscellaneous collection of domestic utensils, in several of which was a quantity of decaying food. On the table there were a number of letters. The deceased was, according to Mr Russell, in the habit of leaving letters about the room. The following is a copy of one of the letters found: —

Dear Mr Russell, — I wish that my body may not have a Christian service read over it. I wish my body to be cast into the ocean, and not covered with "thick calico." The above is my wish. -Samuel Marsh.

In another note was the following: — "Please write of my death to Mrs Fowler, Roe Cottage, Beeston, near Nottingham." The former note Mr Russell states he saw a few days before the deceased died. He was last seen on Friday at noon by Mr Russell, and during the night a woman named Woodroe, living in the same house, heard him coughing. So far as is known Marsh, who has been living in Dunedin for about three months, has no relatives here. He was by profession a mining engineer, and some time ago had a son working in Sparrow's foundry. He came to Dunedin from the Bay of Islands, and had letters of introduction to one of the leading members of the Freethought Association of this city. An inquest will probably be held in a day or two.  -Otago Daily Times, 6/3/1882.

Brief Notes. — No inquest was held on the body of Samuel Marsh. It was deemed unnecessary.  -Tuapeka Times, 15/3/1882.

Samuel Marsh lies in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.