INQUEST.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2706, 19 October 1871, Page 3

INQUEST.

The City Coroner held an inquest this afternoon on the body of George T. Wells, who was found dead at the Pier Hotel yesterday evening. The following evidence was given:— Mr S. S. Lazarus stated that he had known the deceased since his arrival hero by the Tararaa in September last. He introduced himself to witness and asked him to procure him employment. He did his best to do this, but failed. He was much depressed in miud aud in spirit*, owing to his nob receiving any remittances from Melbourne by the last two mails, and his inability to obtain employment. Never thought that he contemplated suicide. Received the following letter after his death. In this letter deceased thanked Mr Lazarus for his kindness to him, and stated that he intended to poison himself with a powder he had brought from Melbourne, and concluded as follows : —“ My position appears to me to ho entirely gone, and to leave mo in a sphere tent is different to what I have been accustomed to me must me (be) horrible, and death is preferable. I have taken a powder which I brought from Melbourne of ray own free will, and hope it will have the desired effect.” He was about 29 years of age, and in Victoria carried on business as a grocer at Hamilton, where he was burnt out. He has a mother and three sisters or brothers in Melbourne, and a sister here. When he was burnt out, which was less than a year ago, he lost all his means.

The following letter was found amongst deceased’s papers, and was dated yesterday, 3.33 p.tn, " I hope everyone will forgive me as I hope to be forgiven. I have within the last half hour taken a powder which I hope will have the desired effect. My worldly prospects are all blighted, and the loss of money and poition weighed so heavily on my mind that death is preferable to an existence of misery. My friends will blameme for this rash act, but I cannot withstand the temptation of so easily ending all my worldly sorrows. But let my friends be placed in my position, then, I think they will feel as I do now. I have been much disappointed iii not receiving a remittancefrom Melbourne, whfich, if it bad come, might have averted this unfortunate death (which I am sure will coxpe very soon.) May heaven receive me, Amen. The evidence of Dr Hammond, who made the post mortem examination, was to the effect that the deceased died from the effects of a dose of sulphate of zinc. One of the jurors stated he was a fellowpassenger with the deceased from Melbourne. On the passage they had some conversation about life insurance, in the course of which deceased said his life was insured for LSOO, but he would require to renew the policy here. Mr Hyman, landlord of the Pier Hotel, said the deceased came to stay at his place on September 9, intimating that he intended to stay in Dunedin until he received remittances from Melbourne, when be intended going to Sau Francisco. He was a quiet,

sober young man, and witness never noticed the least sign of low spiritedness 01 insanity about him. Last saw him alive at half past three o’clock yesterday afternoon, when he was sitting in a room writing a letter (the one addressed to Mr Lazarus). He bad a glass of beer, and went upstairs to his room. At about six o’clock the waiter went up to call him to tea, and found that he was dead. Witness went up to the room, and found him lying on the bed, with his hands placed across his breast. In one of bis bauds he held the photograph of a female. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from the effects of a dose of sulphate of zinc, taken when suffering from temporary insanity.