MELANCHOLY SUICIDE AT GREEN ISLAND

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 350, 1 March 1861, Page 4

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE AT GREEN ISLAND

An inquest was held on Saturday last, at Green Island, before J. H. Harris, Esq., J.P., and a jury,.touching the death of James Warnocki a settler in that district, who had on the previous evening committed suicide by hanging himself. From the evidence of Mis. Irvine, a neighbor, it appeared that she and her husband had accompanied the deceased to Dunedin on the day in question, but had returned without him. Had seen him at a store in Dunedin, apparently, the worse for liquor. Witness again saw him at James Ballautyne's house, on his road home, about four o'clock. He was then very tipsy, and had a bottle half full of whiskey in his band. Witness and Mrs. Ballantyne partook of some whiskey with him, and afterwards helped him to his own house, about half a mile distaut, and took tea with the family. They then went home. Shortly afterwards heard . Warnock'a wife and children screaming, and saw the wife running away, pursued by her husband. When the latter saw witness he stopped running, and went with her to her house. He was in a very wild and confused state, and said he had been beating his wife, and he hoped he had not done it " ower sair." He also said "Get some one to take hold of me and take me away before I do auy more ill." Witness desired him to sit down until the effects of the drink wore off, but he. said it was not the drink. He then went to sleep for half-an-hour, but on seeing two. mien going towards deceased's house, she awoke him, and he went away. Witness's husband came in from his.work about half-past seven, and she told him what had occurred. She then went over to Warnock's house to see if all was right again, and hearing no sound, opened the door, when she saw deceased hanging, and immediately ran to call her husband, who came at once. , Richard Irvine, the husband of the last witness, corroborated her evidence, and added that when he went into deceaiod's house, he found him hangiug by a piece of stout rope from a joist across the room. He thought the toes were touching the ground. Witness cut down the body which was nearly cold. No one else was in the house. Witness immediately sent for some neighbors, and a'message was despatched to the police at Dunedin. Mary Warnock', widow of the deceased, deposed that after Mrs. Ballantyue and Mrs. Irvine left the house on the previous evening, deceased pushed one of the children down. Witness remonstrated with him, when he commenced tormenting her, and she threw a drop of tea in his face, and ran out. Deceased followed her, and struck hor several times. She ran away to Mr. Johnston's, where she remained until she was informed of her husband haying hu&g himself.

The Jury returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity." The deceased leaves a widow and four young children to lament his untimely end.