EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 468, 20 February 1869, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.

The Auckland Herald reports the following extraordinary case of suicide as having occurred in that city : It is long since it has fallen to our duty to record such a case of self-immo-lation as occurred yesterday upon Queen-street wharf. At noon a large numher of persons were promenading up and down the wharf, when they were startled and horrified by an act so sudden, so unexpected, and yet so dreadful in its results that it will long live in the memories of those who had the misfortune to witness it. About half-past twelve a young man aged twenty, named John Webb, whose parents reside in Wellington-street, went on board the Queen Bee, which vessel lays alongside the outer T of the wharf, and asked permission to be allowed to go up aloft, as he said, to look out for a steamer. Permission was granted, and he at once proceeded to ascend the fore-rigging ; having arrived at the fore-top, he continued his ascent into the crosstrees, and stood there for some time, steadying himself by the fore topgallant rigging. He was observed by the chief mate of the Queen Bee, and by Mr Watt of the Eoyal Alfred, as well as several persons on the wharf. After standing a short time, Webb put his hands together in the position of a diver about to take a plunge, and exclaimed " Goodbye" four times ; he then said, "" Get away from under, I am coming," and precipitated himself, head first, upon the ship's forecastle. One of the crew was laying asleep immediately underneath, and the unfortunate man came down within a few feet of where he was extended. The sound of the fall was heard a long distance up the wharf, and a rush was made to the spot. He was at once picked up, when the back of his skull was found to be completely smashed in, and he had ceased to breathe. One of the crew of the vessel ran up the wharf and met Constable Corrigan, of the water police, by whom he was accompanied to Dr Nicholson, who came down immediately to the scene of the tragedy. Medical assistance was, however, of course useless, as death must have been instantaneous. No motive can be assigned for the act, but Webb was generally believed to be of unsound mind, and was subject to frequent fits. He has previously had several very narrow escapes of drowning by falling over the wharf, and only last week fell between the wharf and a vessel, and was-with difficulty rescued. The depth of his fall was 90 feet. A singular case of attempted suicide is reported to have taken place on board the s.s. Euahine, during her last voyage from Panama. It appears that a passenger by that vessel, named Courtney, a Roman Catholic priest, one. afternoon retired to his cabin complaining of indisposition. On the surgeon attempting to enter, he found the door locked, and as no response was made to his repeated knockings, he had the door forced, when he found Courtney lying on the floor with his throat cut from ear to ear, and with another wound in his arm. Prompt measures were immediately taken by sewing up the wounds to arrest the flow of blood. The captain was, however, obliged to confine the unfortunate man in irons to prevent him from tearing them open again, but he is now in a hotel in Wellington in his senses, and in a fair way to recovery. According to the Wellington Post, he says the attempt to commit suicide

was caused by a peculiar dream he had a night or two previous. On examining his papers, drafts were found for £3OOO sterling, besides a large quantity of gold under his»»pillow. A will was also found of a very recent date, leaving all his effects to the Bishop of Lancaster, England.