The Inquest.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3033, 4 November 1878, Page 2

The Inquest.

An inquest on the body of Henry Goldsmith was held at the Court House at 11 o'clock to-day, before Dr. J. Kilgour, coroner, and the following jury :—• F. A. Pulleine, J. Osborne. D. JbL Gellion, J. M. Mennie, L. Ehrenfried, B. Wilson, J. F. Ahlgren, J. W. Hall, G. Crocker, M. Hennelly, John Frater, J. Marshall, James Benshaw. Mr John Frater was appointed Foreman. Mr Miller said he appeared for the friends of the deceased.

The Jury, being sworn, then proceeded to view the body. On returning the following evidence was taken:—

William Fraser, sworn, deposed—l am Besident Magistrate and Warden of Thames. I have known the deceased for the last 25 years. He was a married man, and has a son at Tauranga—a surveyor. The . deceased was about 60 years of age. His proper name is Henry Gold Smith, and.he was called Goldsmith, there being two Smiths iv the First Waikato Begiment. We called deceased Goldsmith to distinguish him from the other. He has been connected with the mining department of this goldfield for the past seven years. During the past seven years I have been constantly in his company and know his habits and health. He bad one severe attack of paralysis, and several minor ones and dreaded a return. He was very careful of his health. Before these attacks he generally became feverish and excited, but I have noticed nothing peculiar about him lately while in his normal state. Latterly he had been very much worried and excited about incessant attacks of newspaper correspondents on the duties of Mining Inspector. I have every reason to believe his pecuniary affairsjjwere in a good state; so far I

know he never borrowed any money* and I know of a great deal he has lent. I have not seen him for over a fortnight, as I was in Auckland.

Charles Curtis, sworn, deponed-—I am the licensee of the Pacific. Hotel, Thames. The deceased" has been in the habit of taking his meals at the Hotel for the past six years, and when he meditated leaving the Thames he always told me. On Friday, the 25th of last mouth, he was at luncheon at my hotel, and told me he would be absent from the Thames for a day or two. That is the last time I saw liim alive. I viewed his body to-day. Since that Friday frequent enquiries have been made of me as to his where* aboucs, and I told the enquirers I thought he had gone to Auckland. During the last 12 mouths I have frequently carried food and refreshment over to his house. He lived alone.

By a juror—When I last saw him I noticed nothing unusual in his manner.

By another juror-—I saw him last about a quarter to two in the, afternoon. Martin H. Pay ne, sworn, deposed—l am a duly qualified medical practitioner practising at Thames. For some time back the deceased has consulted me as to the state of his health. I treated him for nervous debility, and he was always afraid of an attack of paralysis. He was rery determined, resolute and excitable. He went to my house on the night of Friday week last, and I had a conversation of an exciting nature with him. He stayed nearly an hour. He teemed much depressed, and said that repeated attacks of one sort or another were breaking him down. That is the last time I saw him alive. I viewed his body to-day, and made a partial examination of it. . I found the left radial artery cut, and a deep seated wound in the roof of hii nouth leading upwards, which would hare been produced by a pistol shot. I think after the pistol shot death must have been instantaneous. I think he has been dead quite ten days. I recognise the medicine bottle produced. The medicine wag prescribed by me for his nervous complaint for the deceased.

By the Foreman—-From the state of mind deceased was in when I saw him last he was very likely to take his life. The attacks he referred to were newspaper attacks, but he did hot refer to any special attacks. His loneliness would add to the depression.

By a Juror—The artery in deceased's arm was cut longitudinally.

By Mr Miller—The excitement he was in when he left me might have caused paralysis or anything. I wish I had waited till next day.

A. J. Allom, sworn, deposed—l am Receiver of Goldfields Revenue for the Hauraki Goldminirig District. I hava known deceased for eight years, the greater part of that time as Mining Inspector, and I have come constantly in contact with him in the discharge of his duties. I have heard him say he had once had an attack of paralysis, and have seen symptoms of it myself. In speaking of the attack of paralysis he was always nervous and excited, but very plucky. I have believed for some months that his mind has been giving way, from the mode our business has been transacted together.

James M. McLaren, sworn, deposed—l am Goldfields Sarreyor. I hare known deceased intimately for about seven years, and had close intercourse with him through business. He had had an attack of paralysis, and was fearful of a recurrence of the attack. Of late I hare observed an absence of mind and excitability. He complained of being harassed to death with newspaper attacks. I saw him last on Thursday week last. He was much depressed, and I tried to cheer him up. He said people might think he was indifferent to these attacks, but he felt them. This was on Thursday or Friday week last.

James Ivey, sworn, deposed—l am Underviewer of Mines in Hauraki district. I was assistant to deceased. He has lived about a fortnight in the cottage where the body now lies. He lived alone. I last Baw him on Friday week last, in the afternoon. Not seeing him on Saturday or Sunday I went to his house, but it appeared closed. I tried the doors, which were fastened. I never looked through the windows.

By a juror—l saw by his manner that he was much excited by newspaper attacks.

Bobert Bullen, sworn, deposed—l am Sub-Inspector of Armed Constabulary in charge of the police at Thames. The deceased being missing from the 25th of last month, for the purpose of making search for him I went, in company with Detective Brennan, on the evening of the 2nd instant at 8.30, to his house. The Detective and mysalf struck matches and looked through the window at the back of the home. Brennan exclaimed "He's here, dead." The back door was bunt open. I saw no lamp or candle that appeared to have been used. On a table inside the door I saw blood stains, and i the knife produced, which I identify as having belonged to. deceased. Immediately under the blood stains on the table were blood stains on the floor, which I could trace to an adjoining room, on entering which I found the deceased sitting on a chair, dressed in his trousers, undershirt, socks and slippers. I examined, the body and found a gaping wound on the left arm at the elbow. A large quantity of blood had flowed from the mouth and note. I could not ascertain whether there was a wound in the mouth or not. There were j other marks' of violence other than I have described. A large quantity of blood was on the floor immediately under the wounded arm, and near the blood I found the revolver produced, one chamber of which appeared to have been recently discharged, while the' other four were loaded. I also observed blood in three different vessels, all of which were some distance from where deceased was sitting dead. I found a white shirt behind bis chair, the left arm of which was saturated with blood. In the front room I found this medicine, bottle, already identified by Dr Payne, and alongside it a letter in an envelope and sealed addressed to Dr Payne, Pollen street. It is as follows;— " Thames, Friday.—Dear Doctor.-HT. have taken your medicine, but my head is very bad. I fear a serious attack of paralysis. You must Bend me some more. Yours truly, Ht. Goldsmith." Further than examining the body I have not touched it or allowed it to be touched till I presented it to the jury today. I cannot state whether deceased had been in bed, but it wa9 disturbed. The. doors and windows of the house were all secured. I have known deceased for over eight years. At times I have found him very peculiar and eccentric, and particularly sensitive of being misrepresented in the discharge of his duties. He complained of attacks

made on him by the Press, saying how undeserved it was.

By Mr Miller—Ho gave me to understand he was in constant dread of an attack of paralysis. On examining his papers I found a diary, the last entry in which was on Friday, the 25th. The entry was the word "nil." The newspaper attacks were of a recent date, commencing about the 16th ultimo.

This concluded the evidence.

The jury retired to consider, and in about 15 minutes returned the following verdict:—" The late Henry Goldsmith's life was taken by his own hand while in a state of temporary insanity."