INQUEST ON GEORGE JELLYMAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 197, 19 August 1881, Page 2

INQUEST ON GEORGE JELLYMAN.

At the inquest held on the body of George Jellyman, in Maryborough, the following evidence was given : — : Willum Robinson, a neighbor of deceased, itated that having heard that Jellymtn was misting he with others went to look for him, and aventutHy found the body in a creek. " We examined thebody.and someone noticed the nath in his neck. This occurred about nine o'clock. The knife produced I took from hia right hand. We then carried the body home. I have known the deceased over 21 years. He was a quiet, steady msn, and seemed always to be going along quietly in the world. He was never given to drinking, and I have never kqown him the worse for drink. Last Friday afternoon he came to mo whilst I was ploughing. He seemed to have something on his mind. He aaked me if I had anything against hiso, or if I knew anyone who had anything against him. I though J It queer. I Baid, " No, George I haven't." Ha seemed quite wild, not the same same man at all. He seemed quite deranged, I thought. He kept on, " Hadn't he been a good neighbor to me." I said, "Yes, could not have been better," and he continued in much the same sort of talk. I thought something had vexed him at the time, and that it was best to let him go away quietly. I never saw him to speak to again. I never heard of anything to disturb his mind. I always believed him to be in comfortable circumstances. Rachel Jellyman deposed : lam the wife of the deceased, George Jellyman. He was 38 years of age last April. I saw him last alivo yesterday about half past one or a quarter to two in the afternoon. He went out with bis little boy to the paddock to see if there were any younsr lambs dead. Previously to that we had all gone out for a walk together, he carrying the baby. The little boy came back about an hour after, and said that he had lost his father, and did not know what way he had gone. He said his father had told him to go down one side of the patch of manuka in the paddock and he would go , down the other side as far as Mr James Giflord's. He never saw hia father after he left him. When my husband went for the walk he seemed very cheerful though absent-minded. He said things and teemed to forget them, and was rather frightened when he saw some young men coming along the road, as if he did not want to meet them. He did not say anything ; then he seemed as if he wanted to go to them, and then he drew back als if he didn't want to go. Afterwards when I missed him I thought that he had not been quite right in ■ his mind. For some time he had been a little strange. I did not notice it much until Thursday last, when he said he had seen Jacob .Gilford, who had been telling him tint he heard that he had been doing something wrong, and he said he had not been doing anything wrong; We have been married twelve years, and during that time I have never noticed anything wild or. strange in his manner. Hehad nothing to trouble hito that I knew of. He only said that he did riot understand what Gilford meant, for Gifford had told him that the police would be after him, and he was in fear that the police were coming after him.. The idea that the police were after him seemed to trouble him very much. ; He said nothing that would give, me an idea he was thinking of dying. He saia he wanted to sell the horse in order that if the police took him I might, have some money. As far as I. knew; he was not in difficulties. He was always happy and . comfortable; about the house. He was always good to me and the children too," and I can form no idea why he killed himself. • ' By the Jsry : I do not know whether the con venatiou between him and Jacob Gifford ever took place. I know my husband went to several persons and ;asked them if they knew anything against him, and they all said no. Ob* day some one told him that Mr Gregory knew something bad about him, bnt when he asked Mr Gregory he said he knew nothing against him. William Alfred Jellyman deposed; lima ion of Georga Jelljnun. I went out for s walk ye»ttrd»y afternoon with my father in our own paddock. When we got to the manuka he told me to go and see if thera ware any lambs dead, and that I was to go one way and he the other. I did not see my fathir again. I wen t a l O ng tbe manuka

expecting to find him at the other ? na% » trot when I got there I could not see him. I called out to him, but got no answer. I then went liome. The Jury intimated that they did Hot require any further evidence, but were ready to return (heir veidicr, which was. to the effect that deceased drowned himself whilst in a state of temporary insanity.