James Brown, (1839-30/5/1895). "night porter at Wain's"

INQUESTS.

DEATH BY HANGING.

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of James Brown, who was found dead in his house in Walsh's lane, off Arthur street, on Thursday, was held at the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Russell street, yesterday afternoon, before Mr Carew (coroner) and six jurymen.

Annie Brown, daughter of the deceased, deposed that her father used to be night porter at Wain's Hotel, till about two years ago. He was born in London, and had been in the colony about 42 years He had been very melancholy for about two or three years past, since he lose his occupation at Wain's Hotel he had done no work at all. He was not able to work, and used to complain about his head. Having no work to do used to worry him; and during the past few days he threatened to do away with himself. The knives were hidden from him for fear he would use them on himself. Witness lived with her father in Walsh's lane. She left home on Thursday afternoon, leaving her father in the house by himself. When she left he was walking about the kitchen. He appeared right enough during the day, and ate his dinner all right. He told witness she had better go out, as she had to buy something for her mother, who was in the hospital. She went out and on her return found him standing by the open bedroom door, with his face towards the fireplace. Witness shook him and spoke to him, but got no answer. She saw no rope. When her father did not answer she went for a neighbour to come and see what was wrong with him. Mrs Smith went into the room, and said she saw a new clothes line hanging from the door. The deceased was 56 years of age. During the last two or three days he talked nonsense, and did not seem to know want he was saying. The reason that she did not tell the police about the matter was that she thought her mother would not like it.

Dr William Smith gave evidence as to examining the body of the deceased between half-past 5 and 6 o'clock on Thursday evening. It probably had not been dead more than an hour or two. He saw the mark of a cord round the neck. He was shown the door where a rope was said to have been. It was about 6ft in height. It was quite possible for a man to hang or strangle himself by means of a rope on the door. Probably some of the weight of the body would be on the floor when the limbs relaxed. The cause of death in witness's opinion arose from hanging. 

The Rev. T. W. A. Melville, who knew the deceased for about two years, said he always looked upon him as "soft." At times he appeared quite sane; at other times he went about the house muttering, and did not appear to understand what one said to him. Mrs Roberts informed him on Thursday that something had happened to him, and he informed the police. He accompanied the police to the house, and saw the deceased's body hanging from the door, with the feet resting on the ground. The rope was fixed between an opening in two boards, and tied to a nail behind. The body seemed quite dead. Witness had once or twice suggested to Mrs Brown that deceased should be removed to a lunatic asylum. She was blind, and said she could not allow him to go. 

Nellie Smith gave evidence as to going to the deceased's house with Annie Brown between halfpast 3 and 4 o'clock on Thursday, and seeing deceased hanging by a rope to the door. He seemed quite dead. Mrs Reid said they had better not cut him down until they told the police, as he seemed quite dead. The police came to the house about an hour afterwards. There was no man near the house before the police came. She sent her little girl for a policeman, but when she got to the station she was frightened to go in; and when she returned Mrs Roberts went for the police.

Sergeant McKay gave evidence as to cutting down the body. He also stated that he found 5s in a purse in the pocket of deceased, who appeared to have strangled himself.

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased hanged himself whilst temporarily insane.   -Otago Daily Times, 1/6/1895.

James Brown seems to have been genuinely unwell in his mind when he killed himself.  But juries at the time regularly judged a suicide as insane, or temporarily so, due to an old law which held that a suicide had committed "felo de se" or "self murder." As such, they had "broken the peace of the Monarch." and their estate was forfeit to the Crown. If a suicide was judge as insane by a Coroner's jury their heirs were allowed to inherit.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

William Bell Bridger, (1849-18/5/1894). "during a snowstorm"

SAD CASE OF SUICIDE.

At about half-past 8 a.m. on the 18th ult. Mr William Bell Bridger, of the firm of Thomson, Bridger, and Co., ironmongers, of Princes street, committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver at his residence, Caversham Rise. The deceased, it appears, got up at 7 o'clock, and about an hour and a-half later his wife, hearing the report of firearms at the back of the house, proceeded to the spot from whence the sound appeared to come, and found the deceased lying in an outhouse in a pool of blood, with a wound on the left aide of his head and a revolver near at hand. Dr Brown was at once sent for, and on arriving at the deceased's residence he dressed the wound, but the deceased died shortly afterwards. The revolver with which the deceased had shot himself contained five chambers, four of which were loaded with ball cartridge when the weapon was discovered, the fifth one having apparently been recently discharged. The deceased had been suffering from insomnia, and for the last 12 months had not been in the enjoyment of good | health. He, however, was receiving medical attention from Dr Brown, under whose treatment he seemed to be gradually recovering; and although he frequently complained of a pain in his head, his friends were under the impression that he was making satisfactory progress. On Thursday it was noticed that he seemed more cheerful than usual as he went to business, and when he got up at 7 o'clock yesterday morning he appeared to be in his usual condition. He had been advised some little time prior to his death to take a holiday for the benefit of his health, and had made arrangements to leave Dunedin for England next week. He was 45 years of age at the time of his death, and had been in the colony over 20 years. Some years ago he occupied a position in the firm of Guthrie and Larnach, and shortly after their large premises in Princes street were destroyed by fire, he joined Mr Thomson in business. He leaves, besides his wife, a family of five children.

THE INQUEST.

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of William Bell Bridger was held on the 19th ult. at the residence of the deceased, Caversham Rise, before Mr Coroner Carew and six jurymen, of whom Mr Julius Silverstone was chosen foreman. 

Plesance Bridger, wife of the deceased, said that her husband was born at Winchester, and had been 31 years in the colony. Until about a year ago he never had a day's illness; since then he had suffered from headaches, and lately from a pain in the head. He was troubled for want of sleep. Some weeks he did not sleep at all. During the past few days he had been a little better. For a long time Dr Brown had attended him. Witness dated his illness from the time he was attacked by some persons during a snowstorm. His head was then knocked about. Two or three days afterwards his face was black and blue, though it was not his face, but the back of his head, that was struck. He could not say who it was that hit him. He slept on Thursday night, waking up before the earthquake, when he complained of a pain in his head. He made no complaint on Friday morning. Witness hearing the report as of a gun ran out to the yard, and there saw her husband lying on his back, bleeding from the head, a revolver by his left hand. He was left-handed. Deceased was very much depressed at times, but it never occurred to witness that he would think of taking his life. He was somewhat depressed about the late arrival of the boat by which he was to travel, as he believed he would be better when he got to sea. Witness did not know that he had a revolver in the house.

Dr Brown said that deceased consulted him in January last, but had not been under his care for the past month or six weeks. His chief complaint was of sleeplessness. Witness made a thorough examination. With the exception of the brain and nervous symptoms from which he suffered every organ was perfectly healthy. The symptoms from which he suffered were so alarming that witness advised a long holiday. As the responsibility of giving this opinion was a heavy one, witness recommended that another medical man should be consulted, and suggested Dr Alexander. He was not aware whether that recommendation was followed. Deceased took a short trip to Australia, returning in March, when, though he had improved, there were indications of mental disturbance. Witness strongly urged a long sea voyage and rest. Deceased was sane, but much depressed. About a month ago, being rung up by him on a matter of business, witness remonstrated with him for not taking that advice. It was on account of the possibility of his condition leading to something of the sort that had now happened, or loss of reason — a general breakdown — that witness was so urgent about getting him away for a holiday. Being called on Friday morning, witness found deceased bleeding from a wound in the head, which caused death about half an hour later.

The Foreman desired to know whether the doctor thought that the snowstorm incident had any bearing on the deceased's condition. Witness stated that the affair was never mentioned to him, but what deceased complained of might have been caused or accelerated by rough treatment of the head. Witness had no hesitation in giving the opinion that deceased was of unsound mind when he took his life.

Maggie Paton, in the employ of Mrs Bridger, said that deceased went to the kitchen for hot water shortly after he arose on Friday. She noticed nothing unusual about him. 

James Cox Thomson, partner in the business firm of which deceased was a member, said that deceased had not lately worried himself particularly about business matters. He said more than once that his illness dated from August last. It was in August that he complained of being roughly treated by snowballers and knocked down. He was a man of active temperament, but seemed to lose that to a great extent, showing a tendency to dwell upon trifles, though lately he was apparently better. The revolver produced was apparently one from a parcel opened up at the warehouse since last Saturday. The date of sailing of the vessel by which he was to leave, the Morayshire, had been put off, witness believed, three or four times.

To the Jury: Witness knew of nothing to cause extra depression at the eleventh hour. 

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased died from a wound self-inflicted while he was temporarily insane.  -Otago Daily Times, 12/6/1894.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

James Murphy, (1834-6/5/1894) "first indication of insanity"

 INQUEST.

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of James Murphy, whose body was found on Sunday near high water mark at Anderson's Bay, was held at the Bay View Hotel yesterday before Mr Coroner Carew and and six jurymen, of whom Christopher Marlow was chosen foreman.

George Elson, who resided in Walker street, identified the body shown to the jury as that of James Murphy, an Irishman, who had lived in one of witness's cottages for about 12 months. Witness thought he was a single man, but he did not know whether he had any relatives in the country or not. Deceased was a labourer. He paid his rent on the 20th of April, and witness had not seen him about since. On the 27th ult. witness heard that deceased was missing. He had never made any complaints to witness, but witness heard that he had been to see Dr Martin. When deceased left the house there were plenty of provisions in it. He had not been working for 12 months and seemed to be living on his means. Witness believed him to be aa honest man. He never noticed any change in him lately. 

To Sergeant Brown: On the Saturday week after the deceased was missed witness went to his cottage and found a latter addressed to the inspector of police, which he gave to the police. Deceased may have been in the house on the 24th of April although he was missed on the 23rd. Witness never noticed any signs of insanity in deceased, but about six months ago Detective Henderson told him that the man was mad.

The letter referred to by witness in his evidence appeared to have been dated on the 24th ult., and the writer charged four persons with being responsible for his death and expressed the hope that God might have mercy on their souls.

John Rentoul, assistant to Mr A. M. Loasby, chemist, in Princes street south, deposed that he remembered a man named James Murphy coming twice to the shop on Sunday, the 22nd of April. The first time he asked for ls worth of laudanum. Witness told him he could not supply him unless he had witnesses. He then went away and came back again in the evening with two men, and asked witness if he could give him the laudanum then. Witness replied that he could. He also asked Murphy what he wanted the laudanum for, and was informed by him that he wanted it to make him sleep. Witness supplied him with 1oz of laudanum, and told him not to take more than 15 drops. Murphy and one of the witnesses signed the poison book. Witness did not notice anything peculiar about Murphy. He seemed, perfectly rational and sober.

Hannah Elson, daughter of George Elson, deposed that she collected rents for her father, who had a tenant named James Murphy. The last time Murphy paid rent was three weeks ago last Friday. Witness did not notice anything unusual in his manner when he paid the rent. She saw him again on the following Monday morning, and he seemed all right then. 

John Galbraith, a labourer, residing in Walker street, deposed that he had known the deceased for the last 16 months. Witness came to him about eight or ten weeks ago, and he saw the deceased two or three times a week. He went with deceased to the chemist's for some laudanum. While they were in the shop deceased asked witness for 6d as he had forgotten his purse. Deceased seemed quite sensible. Witness saw him again on the following day and thought he looked better. That was the last time he saw him alive.

To Sergeant Brown: Witness did not know that deceased was hard up. 

To the Foreman: He had not known deceased to drink during the last few weeks. 

Thomas Newell, brickmaker, who lived at Anderson's Bay, stated that on Sunday, at about 1 p.m., be was looking out of his back gate, across Anderson's Bay, when he saw an object lying about 20 yards from high water mark. He went to see what the object was, and found it to be the dead body of a man. He informed Constable Hartnett about the matter, and the constable had the body removed to the Bay View Hotel. 

Dr Martin deposed that the deceased was a patient of his eight or ten months ago. He came to see witness frequently about that time. Witness last saw him about the 23rd of August. He was a hypochondriac; he fancied he had a great many complaints, but they were imaginary. This was often the first indication of insanity. Witness had seen the document produced, which was said to be written by the deceased. If deceased did write it witness should think he was of unsound mind at the time he wrote it. There were no marks on the deceased's body except some slight abrasions on the face, which might have been occasioned in the water after death. The body must have been in the water over a week. Witness could not say whether the body was alive or dead when it went into the water. 

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was found dead in the mud at Anderson's Bay, and that there was no evidence to show what was the cause of death.  -Otago Daily Times, 8/5/1894.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

John Richard Baxter, (1812-11/10/1892). "gold chaser and stick maker"

SUICIDE.

John Richard Baxter, aged eighty years, a gold chaser and stick maker, committed suicide this morning by cutting his throat with a razor.  -Evening Star, 11/10/1892

SUICIDE.

An inquest on the body of John Richard Baxter, who was found dead with his throat cut at his residence in Rattray street on Tuesday morning, was held at the Britannia Hotel yesterday before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six. Mr Charles Johnson was chosen foreman. 

Mrs Catherine Marshall said that deceased was her father, who was born in Birmingham, and had been in the colony about 30 years. He was a widower for the last three years, and was 80 years of age. He was very hearty for his age. Witness last saw him alive at about 10 o'clock on Monday night. She used to go down to his house every evening to make his bed. He asked her to come and see him on Monday as he was in trouble about his rent. He owed L12 for rent, which appeared to worry him very much. Witness stopped with him all Monday, when he seemed to be very cheery. She now thought that his cheerfulness had been a "blind," as he did not want her to see the state of his mind. Witness never thought that he would do such an act, as he was too good a man. She went to his house on Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock. He had left the verandah door open, as was his custom. She went into the shop and called for him, and getting no answer ran upstairs thinking that he was asleep. She went to his door and said, "Daddy, are you not awake yet," but got no answer. When she went into his room and saw what had happened she ran out and told the servant at the Britannia Hotel. On Monday afternoon her father kept walking up and down, saying that he wished he had a lot of money to leave her. He then seemed to be uneasy in his mind. He never had any trouble about money before. He seemed to be getting over his trouble on Monday night, and witness was very pleased to see that. 

Fanny Mulhern, servant at the Britannia Hotel, stated that she saw deceased on Tuesday morning at about half-past 8. He was getting water at the side of the house, and was fully dressed. He seemed to be shaking his head in a rather peculiar way. She saw him shaking his head the same way on Monday afternoon, and witness thought it was a bit strange. She told Mr Porter about the matter. 

Robert Porter, residing at the Britannia Hotel, stated that on Tuesday morning he went to deceased's room. Deceased was in bed, undressed. His head was resting on a wash basin, which was half full of clotted blood. He was dead, and had a wound on the side of the throat. Witness considered the deceased a very temperate man. 

Dr Teevan said he examined the body, and found a wound on the right hand side of the neck about 6in long and 1in deep. There was blood on the hands, shirt, sheet, and basin. The right hand was partly clenched, and the left hand extended in the ordinary way. All the exposed parts of the body were quite cold, and the parts under the sheets partly warm. On a table near at hand was an open razor, covered with blood. The wound could have been self-inflicted by the razor (produced). There were no signs of any struggle. He thought the body had been dead about two hours. 

Arthur Marshall, grandson of deceased, and Constable McGill also gave evidence. 

A verdict to the effect that deceased cut his throat whilst temporarily insane was returned. 

Mr J. A. Hislop, who appeared for Messrs Speight and Co., the landlords of deceased's house, stated that as reference had been made to deceased having been worried about rent, the inference was that the present landlords, who have owned the premises for the past six weeks or so, were pressing him. Such, however, was not the case, as they had never, since they became landlords, asked him for rent, or even sent in an account. The rent must have been owing to the former landlords.  -Otago Daily Times, 13/10/1892.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

John McBain, (1826-12/10/1889). "witnessed the celebrated charge"

 

John McBain, a Crimean veteran, aged 63 years, died at Dunedin on Saturday of cancer. He belonged to the Royal Artillery, and took part in the battles of Alma, Balaclava, and Inkerman, and held a medal and four clasps.  -Poverty Bay Herald, 18/10/1889.

A CRIMEAN VETERAN.

There died at Ravensbourne on Saturday morning John McBain, a Crimean veteran, deserving of some passing notice. McBain enlisted at Aberdeen on March 18, 1848, into the Royal Regiment of Artillery; from thence he was forwarded to Woolwich, the headquarters of the regiment. A few years' garrison work at Woolwich and Devonport brought up the interval till 1854, when he was drafted into the Royal Horse, and put under orders for the Crimea, where he arrived September 16, 1854. No time was lost here, for in four days after his arrival he was taking part in the battle of Alma, and about a month later he was in the battle of Balaclava where, with his battalion, he witnessed the celebrated charge of the Light Brigade. On the 5th November he was in the Battle of Inkerman, which McBain always spoke of as being the most stubbornly contested of all the Crimean battles. During the following 10 mouths his detachment did good service in the protracted siege of Sebastopol. For these engagements he bore the Crimean medal with the four clasps, as also the Turkish medal. On the arrival of the troops in England they were inspected by the Queen and Princess Victoria, now Empress Dowager of Germany. At the parade McBain carried on his shoulders an enormous Russian cat which he had brought from the Crimea, and which attracted her Majesty's attention so much that on the same evening the cat had found a royal mistress, and McBain was the happy possessor of a sum of money far exceeding its value. After a short spell of nine weeks at headquarters M'cain went with his regiment to the lonian Islands. From here he was sent back to England as recruiting sergeant and to assist in procuring horses, at this time men and horses being in great demand for the Indian mutiny. On the a-completion of about two years' recruiting work in England he left with his recruits for India, via Corfu, where they picked up the remainder of the regiment, arriving at Point de Galle in 1859. By the time they arrived in India the mutiny was over, and the batteries were distributed among the various subjugated districts to assist in maintaining the peace that hid just been arrived at. During his stay in India, which extended over several years, McBain passed most of his time as officer's servant to a gentleman who was a keen hunter of the wild beasts then swarming in the jungles. His many reminiscences of these stirring scenes were highly entertaining, and the recital to intimate friends of his own share in this work helped to while away many a dreamy hour during the earlier stages of his illness. On the completion of 21 years of service he received his discharge, when he emigrated to Otago, where he has been for the past 17 years — for some time at South Dunedin, and latterly at Ravensbourne. About 10 months ago he was attacked by a virulent form of cancer, causing great pain and discomfort, most heroically borne, and from which he was happily released on Saturday last, at the age of 65.  -Otago Daily Times, 14/10/1889.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

James Pithers, (1839-5/10/1889). "did not know how he got there"

SUICIDE BY SHOOTING.

(BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, this day. 

James Pithers, a newspaper runner latterly employed as a gardener, committed suicide at Roslyn by shooting himself with a gun. He had been much depressed in spirits since his return from Sydney, whither he had gone to visit his only relative three months ago. A month ago his mind became slightly unhinged. Deceased was fifty years of age and unmarried.  -Auckland Star, 7/10/1889.

SUICIDE AT ROSLYN.

An inquest was held this morning, at Roslyn, before Mr Coroner Carew, on the body of James Pithers. The following is a summarised report of the proceedings: 

James A. Park, auctioneer, said that the body shown to the jury was that of the late James Pithers. Witness thought he was an Englishman, born in London. He had been upwards of fourteen years in the colony. He had been in witness’s employ for over four years as handyman and gardener. He was not married, so far as witness was aware of. Witness had known him for about two years before employing him. He was working about the district, and previous to that he was a Star runner. His health broke down the winter before last, and he was then under the impression that he would not last through that winter. About four months ago he caught cold and had a severe attack of pleurisy, and, witness thought, visited Dr Brown. After his recovery he was very weak, and spoke of taking a trip to Auckland to see if it would improve him in any way; but instead of Auckland he visited Sydney, having relations there. It was, witness believed, fully a month before he found his relations there, which seemed to make him despondent. He returned to Dunedin on the 31st August last. He said he felt better, but he did not look any better. About a month from Thursday last he got up in the middle of the night and wandered to Port Chalmers. He said when he came back that he did not know how he got there. Witness saw him the following day, and he seemed to be perfectly sane. Mrs Park offered to send for a doctor, but he said he was perfectly right and would not have a doctor to see him. Since then he would very seldom leave the premises, seeming as though he did not want to meet anyone who would talk to him about his past movements. Witness had had a lad at the place recently, and used to ask him about Pithers, whether he noticed anything wrong about him. His answers were always “No,” and to the effect that he was all right and quiet. On Friday night witness beard the servant said he was brighter and more cheery than he had been, but that he spoke strangely sometimes. The last time witness spoke to Pithers was on Thursday morning between 8.30 and 9 o'clock, and got rather a quiet reply. Immediately after replying Pithers walked away. Since then it had occurred to witness as strange that Pithers did not stay to speak to him as he usually did; but that did not occur to witness at the time. Witness fancied that Pithers considered himself a burden and of no use, because he had not been able to do the work he used to do. The lad was only temporarily there to assist him in heavy work. Witness never gave Pithers reason to think he was dissatisfied with him. Witness told him, after he wandered to Port Chalmers, that he was foolish to brood over matters. He said if he had been in business he should have gone wrong long ago. Witness told him that so long as he liked there was a home for him with witness, and that he could potter about and do what he could. Witness thought he was over fifty years of age, but he made himself out, witness believed, to be forty-eight years. He had wandered about a good deal during his life — had been in Victoria, through part of the Maori War, on the Otago diggings, and at Allans’ of Hopehill, before he came to town. The carbine produced was witness's property. It used to be in Pither’s custody. Whenever witness gave it up to him it was always empty. On Saturday morning witness asked Pithers to have his rifle cleaned and have it ready by the afternoon, which witness understood he did. Witness heard at lunch time what had happened to Pithers.

Dr Brown said that on Saturday last he was called by telephone; and arrived at Mr Park's at a few minutes before 2 p.m. He found the body lying on its back in an outhouse, at full length on the ground. Deceased had the barrel of a carbine in his right hand, pointing towards his head. The right side of his bead was blown to pieces by the discharge of the carbine. Portions of the skull and brains were lying beside the body, and nieces of brain were scattered about the woodhouse, the roof, and floor. The injuries could have been self-inflicted. In October, 1888, he consulted witness. He was then sutffering from pleurisy. Witness had not seen him since. Any severe illness might depress a man mentally; if it lasted long it would be very likely to do so. 

Margaret Anderson, general servant at Mr Park’s, said that she had asked Pithers what made him dull, but he did not tell her. He said: “Never mind; you don’t know anything about it.” The night before he went to Port Chalmers he said that he was tired of living. He did not say why. He said he would like a good walk. Witness had never since then heard him talk about making away with himself. On Saturday morning he was very quiet and dull, and hardly spoke to witness. It was the same at breakfast and dinner-time. He had his dinner about five minutes past twelve. He did not eat much, and said he wished he had a good appetite. Witness did not see him with a gun that morning. Before he went to Port Chalmers witness sometimes thought his mind was affected, but had not thought so since. The people in the house were always very kind to him. 

Richard Harris said that he knew Pithers, and used to work with him at Mr Park’s at gardening. Witness had noticed that he was very quiet for the past two or three days. After witness returned from dinner on Saturday he found Pithers’s body lying on the floor, and reported the occurrence. 

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased shot himself while temporarily insane.  -Evening Star, 7/10/1889.

The Dunedin Herald of last week says: — The suicide of James Pithers was one of the most revolting that has been seen for many a day. We refer, of course, to the state in which the body was found. The right half of the face was blown completely away, and huge pieces of skull and brain were lying about, some at a distance of about four yards. The body was lying in a little lake of blood, in which pieces of brain and bone were floating. The bullet, after doing its deadly work, cut its way through the wooden ceiling and galvanised iron roof of the shed. The one redeeming feature of the affair was the coolness dismayed by a young man named Richard Harris, who first discovered the deed. When he entered the building he had two of Mr Park's children with him and taking in at a glance the state of affairs, but not wishing to terrify the children, he quite coolly called "Jim," and receiving, of course, no reply remarked "Oh! he's not there, let's go and see where he is," then turned and walked away.  -Poverty Bay Herald, 17/10/1889.

James Pithers lies in an unmarked, pauper's grave in Dunedin's Southern Cemetery.

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.