SUICIDE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 87, 19 January 1872, Page 3

SUICIDE.

A determined suicido was committed on Monday by a man named George Fountain, a confectioner and fruiterer, holding a stall in the Eastern Market. He resided in a two-storied brick house, in Market-lane, off Bourke-strcet east. For some time past he had been drinking heavily, and although within tho last few days he was sober, he was still in a low condition from the effects of drink. lie was separated from his wife, who had left him twelve years since, but he was living with another woman. The real Mrs. Fountain has lately returned to Melbourne, and this proceeding on her part apparently caused great anxiety both to the deceased and the woman who had supplanted her. His wife did not. go near the deceased, but to this cause was attributed his giving way to drink. On Sunday evening lie had some conversation respecting his wife’s return with Mr. John Garhntt of’ Leicester-strcot, his son’s father-in-law. The woman with whom he was living had exhibited symptoms of an unsound mind, and was attended by a domestic servant named Phoebe Smith. The deceased and his so-called wife went to bed, sleeping in the same room, about one o’clock on Monday morning. A few hours later the woman Smith got up and went to the room where the deceased and Mrs. Fountain were. Fountain was up and partly dressed and was supporting Mrs. Fountaiu in a chair. She was very sick, and said she was dying. With the assistance of the servant the deceased carried her into a bed in another room. The servant went into the kitchen to make her some tea, and was followed by deceased. During her absence from the room for a minute lie went out. Shortly after the woman Smith had occasion to go to the hay loft at the rear of the premises to get some things, and she there found the deceased lying on his face. She examined the body and discovered the ilia'll was dead, his throat being cut from ear to ear. The place was covered with blood. Close to liis right hand was lying a table-knife which the woman had seen in the kitchen that morning. She gave informatin to tho police, and in the afternoon an inquest was held by the coroner, Dr. Youl. foregoing facts were elicted in the evidence, and a verdict that he had killed himsolf by cutting his throat when of unsound, from excess of drink. The deceased was about forty-two years of age, and was in comfortable pecuniary circumstances, He had been suffering from delirium tremens, and had, when in that condition, threatened to take his life. The woman with whom lie was living with was examined in the morning by two medical men and found to he insane. She was therefore sent to the Lunatic Asylum.