0PHIR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 574, 18 April 1873, Page 2

OPHIR.

(FROM A COERESrOXDENT.) Ophir, April 15. A determined suicide occurred at Black’s yesterday. The usual quietm-ss of our township was somewhat disturbed yesterday morning by the report rccaehing us of an old resident named Patrick Leary, having committed suicido in a most determined manner by hanging himself with a saddle strap, at the farm of M. Cleary, about one mile from Uphir. It appears that the body was first discovered by a man named William Mec, hanging to the dray, about seven o’clock in the morning, he at once gave the alarm to Mr. Cleary and another man, and sent his boy to Ophir for the police, immediately. On receiving the information, Constable M'Gann at once proceeded to the spot, and arrived there about a quarter of an hour after the body was first discovered. The Constable at once cut the body down, but no sign of life could be discovered, altbuogh the body was not quite cold. It appears very strange that no attempt was made to cut down the body before the arrival of the police by any of spectators, but was allowed to bang there fur a quarter of an hour after it was fiut seen. It is very probable that life was extinct at the time, still the first thing that should he done by any person finding a man in that position, should be to try to save life, and the body should have been cut down at once. The police had the body removed to the Ophir Hotel, and ar, inquest was held before E. H. Carew, Esq., coroner, and a jury of thirteen, Mr, 11. Dixon foreman. The evidence went to show that the ucceased had been drinking h< avy lately, and for the last few weeks had been very eccentric in his habits. The police said that upon searching the body nothing of any value was found on him, but said that ue had ascertained that the deceased had an account at the bank but how much ho could not say. ISo medical evidence was given. The jury returned a verdict that the do ceased met his death by hanging himself tc a dray, while in a state of temporary insanity. The dray which ho hung himsell to, was only four feet six inches in heighl from the ground, and when found, his knees were bent, and his toes touching tin ground.