DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 574, 13 January 1882, Page 2

DETERMINED SUICIDE.

At an inquest held at Coalgato on Tuesday, on tho body of Charles Rhodes, who died at Glendore Station, the following evidence was taken. We clip from the Lyttelton Times.

Elizabeth Patterson, who seemed much distiessod, deposed that she was in service at Mr Aitken's, Glendore. Had known deceased for ahout two years, ever since she had been in the Colony. Had kept company with him for about five months. On Sunday evening last he came to see her ahout four o'clock, and stayed till nine, He seemed in his usual spirits. Said he was going to Christchurch on Monday. Saw him next evening ; he came to Glendore about eight. He was sober, and not excited. Took a walk with him for about an hour. When they returned to th® stable gate, deceased took witness by the hand and said, <; Good bye, Lizzie, I shall not see you any more." Witness asked him where he was going to, and he replied, "Nowhere." He pulled a bottle out of his pocket, and put some stuff ■in it. He then shook it up and asked witness to have a drink. Witness declined, as she was not thirsty. He then drank it himself. He took a locket off witness' neck, and gave her another, saying, "Toss that oil: and wear this, now.'' Did not know whether ho thought tiie locket on her nock was given by another man. Thought deceased had been lower in spirits since the j Ilorora'.a hall. Witness wont to that had , with another young man. After drinking' ihe contents of the bottle he tossed it into j the creek. Ho then picked it up again,

and asked witness to get somo water in HWitness did so, and he put some more stuff in it, and drank it off. He then said, - I shall not go ten yards," and lay down on the grass. Had no idea what he was putting in the bottle. When he lay down, witness went and told Mr Ail ken, who came out at once, accompanied by a gentleman, who held up the head of deceased, and then got him some mustard and water. « By a juror : He whh lyiiig down and groaning, and the gentleman turned him over. He never spoke again. The mustard and water took no effect, Did not see him after. By jurors : He said lemonade was in the bottle. Saw him take the cork out, but did not see if it was full or not. Had a difference with deceased before ihe ball, but none since. Did not hear him threaten to do anything to himself. There could not have been more than two or three minutes between his taking the first drink and the second. He as*ked witness to meet him on Monday night, when he came on V Sunday. Did not ask him what he was fl putting into the bottle. Said lie was ■ going to Christchch to see a person about • some timber for a home. After the 0 quarrel, had friendly conversation with him. He did not ask witness to go to the ball. David Manson deposed to going to Wallace's, chemist, with deceased, where he declined a suggestion to buy somo ** powder made specially to poison rats, stating that he was instructed by Mr Aitken to buy strychnine only, and he wished for 2s worth of that, which he received, and both of them signed the chemist's book. The che.nist cautioned deceased, and so had he. Deceased wrote above his own signature the name of Mr Aitken. Dr Henry Richards said tho deceased came to consu t him on Sunday last. He complained of having visions in his sleep. Grave him some medicine and a sleeping a draught. He told witness Mr Aitken wished him to get some arsenic to poison rats with. Informed him that it must be got from a chemist in town. Was sent for last night to see deceased. Went at once, and found that the man was dead. Saw tho constable remove a bottle front one of deceased's pockets, containing a little strychnine. By a juror : Did not think there was « anything serious the matter when deceased called on Sunday. He told witness he had been having a little too much whisky, but he was quite sober then, and perfectly rational. Strong emotion might *> cause the complaint he suffered from. Ttireo grains of strychnine would destroy an adult in fifteen minutes. By the Coroner: If deceased took all (hat he was said to have taken out of tho bottl%, he would not be likely to throw it up—absorption would be so rapid. Constable Warren, stationed at Coalgate, gave evidence as to searching the body, '** and finding on it a bottle containing strychnine, together with a receipt for £20 for a section of land in Hororata. Mr Aitkin, of Glendore, corroborated the evidence of the girl as to the death of the deceased, and said that he had not authorised him lo get any poison on his account. The jury retired, and after an hour's deliberation brought in the following verdict :—'• Cause of death, poison administered by himself: state of deceased's mind, uncertain." **