INQUESTS.
THE LATE SHOOTING CASE. An inquest was held at the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel yesterday, on the body of Henry Bryant, by Dr. Johnston, Mr. J. Harding, foreman. Joanna Bryant deposed ; I am the, wife of the deceased Henry Bryant, aged 36. We came from Sydney to Wellington about two years ago. My husband was a basketmaker. Before leaving Sydney be suffered from pleurisy and lumbago. He used to drink a little brandy sometimes, but very seldom. He came to Wellington principally for his health. He suffered from delirium several times on board the Easby coming over from Sydney. Two days before leaving Sydney he showed symptons of insanity, and a doctor bad to be called in to see him. The doctor said he would get all right again, and gave him some medicine, after which he got all right again for a time, but when on board he got bad again. He had a severe fall on board. H* had no fits in Wellington until about a year ago, when he was attacked again after one day’s drinking. He told me had been obliged to take a great deal of opium while in the 70th regiment, as be was suffering from diarrhcea for two years and a half. He never drank much at a time. A very little sufficed to upset him. On this last occasion he commenced drinkingaboutfive weeks ago. Hedrnnk brandy chiefly. When he kept to porter he was all right; he did not drink at home, but with others when he went out. He began on a Saturday, and on the following Monday he showed signs of insanity ; he was very wild in his manner, and I was frightened, but be promised he would 'do nothing to hurt me. He had threatened me at first. I called in a doctor to biro, and he was angry with me. When he first showed signs of madness, he said, “Let me get hold of you!” and threatened to get at the children. Ido not remember bis saying he would kill himself. He then seemed to get better, but continued strange in his manner, and used to jump about in bed at night. He always carried a revolver wherever he went. I was never afraid of his using it. That was the last thing I thought of. He said he was afraid of the people here, and that the revolver was the only consolation he had. I never feared his committing suicide witli it. My fear was that he would hurt somebody else. He said there were some men in the 70th Regiment who tried to get him out. He also fancied that he had borrowed some money from a young man and had not paid it, and that he saw the man in a prison gang, for.which he blamed himself. He had all sorts of fancies. I sent for Dr. Doyle, at which he was much displeased, saying he wanted no doctor, none could do him any good. He told me to pay the doctor and send him away. Dr, Doyle called in three times altogether,.and told him to get out into the fresh air and not keep so much in-doors. Last Sunday evening he appeared melancholy, and went to bed early. He said he felt low, and promised to go and see the doctor in the morning if he were not better. He was restless at night, and got up two or three times, saying he wanted his pipe. On Monday morning he jumped out of bed, as if full of life and in better spirits. He lit the fire, and told me to keep in bed and he would get me a cup of coffee. I refused, as I wanted to watch him, fancying' he was queer in his manner with the children. He ordered one of the very little ones to get up and take in the milk—a child too young to do it. I did not see that he had a pistol. He told me to go and got breakfast ready, but I hoard the baby in the kitchen crying, and went to it. I had hardly got outside the door when I heard the report of the pistol. I did not know what it was, but thought ho had only knocked something down, until he called out “ good-bye, ’ when I ran in and saw the blood coining from his head. He used to say, “ Only for you and the dear children I would but he never said what he would do. lat once called for help, and a number of people came in. James Petherick deposed ; I am a plasterer, residing in Willis-street, in this city. I live immediately opposite the house occupied by deceased, whom I have known for twelve mouths. Latterly I have seen him nearly every day, as we occasionally went out together fishing and walking. He appeared to be very free with me, and said four months ago he could not make it out, but lie had a great desire to put an end to his existence, I was surprise®, and remonstrated with him. He seemed to avoid conversing on the subject lately, but I noticed that he wasgradually getting lower and lower, and to some extent I kept watch upon him. I saw him on Sunday last in front of his house, and had a talk with him. He promised to come over to my house to spend the evening, but bo did not come. His wife cams over, and said her husband wished her to state that he was in low spirits, and not fit company for any one. I saw him next morning about half-past seven. He was up, but did not appear desirous of speaking to me. He appeared very dejected. I stopped with him for some time, and directly after I left him he shot himself. It must have taken place before I had left him five minutes. I had not seen him with the pistol. If I had I certainly should have taken it from him.
I Dr. Harding proved the fact of death having ensued in consequence of a pistol shot wound having been inflicted. The revolver was lying near the man. He described the nature of the wound, and stated that when deceased became half-conscious he said to his wife that he had done nothing to be ashamed of. This might have had reference to his past life. He died about 11 o’clock at night. The jury having consulted, returned a verdict to the effect “ That deceased committed suicide while suffering from temporary insanity.” THE DROWNING CASE. An inquest was held at the Morgue yesterday before Dr. Johnston, coroner, and a jury, on the body of David Roberts, -whose body was discovered in the water near the Queen’s wharf on Tuesday last. The jury having been sworn in, retired to view the body ; and on their returning, the following evidence was taken. George Phillips, second mate of the Reid, now lying in Wellington harbor, deposed that he knew the deceased, who was an able seaman, being about 35 years of age, and belonging to Liverpool, He joined the Andrew Reid in London in January last. Saw deceased last alive on the 24th of this month. He was near the Pier Hotel dooi*, at about two o’clock in the afternoon. He was hardly sober, but able to take care of himself. AVitness told him to go aboard. Deceased asked him to give him some money, and witness told him he had had sufficient. Witness saw him go on to the wharf towards the ship. Did not see any more of the deceased. He was missed the next morning, not being at work ; and witness found upon inquiry that the deceased had not been on board since the previous day. There was no clifficulty in getting on board the ship, the gangway being perfectly safe. D. C. Turner, a clerk employed in the New ; Zealand Insurance Company’s offices, deposed to having been on the outer T of the Queen’s wharf on the 24fch instant. He happened to ! be looking down in the water and saw the head and shoulders of a man, apparently quite dead, in the water, the hair of the head just i appearing above the surface. Witness reported the case to the police, and immediately re- [ turned to the wharf, but could not find the body. A boy on the wharf found a hat, ; which the boy said he had discovered on one of the stringers between the Andrew Reid and i the wharf.
David Connell deposed that he was a mariner, residing in Wellington. On Tuesday last he was on the wharf, and was grappling for some lost taoklej close by the Andrew Reid. His grappling iron caught the body of a man, the subject of this inquest. He fetched the body to the surface of the water, put a rope round the leg, and made it fast to the wharf. Then informed the captain of the Andrew Reid of the occurrence, as lie knew that a man was missing from that ship. The body was then lifted out of the water and brought ashore. The police afterwards took charge of it. Witness heard the captain of the Andrew Reid and several of the crew say that they recognised the body as being that of the missing man, David Roberts. Witness had not known deceased during bis lifetime, but could recognise him as one of the crew of the Andrew Reid, having seen him at work on that ship. This concluded the evidence, Sergeant Price stating in addition that the hat found by a boy on the wharf had been recognised by members of the crew at the police station. The jury returned a verdict of “Found drowned.”
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5050, 31 May 1877, Page 3
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1,640INQUESTS. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5050, 31 May 1877, Page 3
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