SUICIDE OF MR. AUBEBT. Mr. J. P. Stow, J.P., held an inquest at the Boyal Hotel, Kent Town, on Tuesday morning, September 6, on the body of ThelismaAubert, who was supposed to have died from the effects of poison administered by his own hand on the previous day. Mr. D. W. Gray was chosen Foreman of the Jury. Jessie Aubert, wife of deceased, said—I last saw my husband alive at 8 o'clock yesterday. He was quite well, and there was nothing peculiar in his manner; but during the week he was somewhat depressed. I had been ill, and I think this depressed him. He never talked to me about the business, and all I knew about it was that he had sold it lately. There was nothing in his general behaviour to lead me to suppose that he would take his life. He was a Frenchman, and was sixty-one or sixty-two years of age. He leaves two children, one grown up and the other nine years of age. The letter produced and dated August 27 is in my husband's handwriting. He never led me to believe he was in such trouble as appears from the letter. The letter, which was addressed to his wife, stated that after tea years of a business full of anxiety, and having been robbed by a lot of unprincipled villains, he was obliged to give up. She could have no idea of the misery he suffered during those years. His life was assured to her for £500, as well as the furniture. He bad given Mr. J. S. Turner full power to act according to her wishes for the benefit of herself and children. As for himself he was certain he could not live much longer with a broken heart. Bernard Koltenius. merchant broker, said—I knew deceased for a very long time. We were not in business together, but I was very intimate with him. He was a partner in the firm of H. Koltenius & Co., and was winding up the business at a store in Grenfell-street, near the Hotel Europe. Yesterday forenoon, about twenty-five minutes past 9 o'clock, I went to my office, which was also used by the firm of H. Noltenius & Co., and found the door locked. On opening it I found that some one had been in before me, and my letters were on my table. I looked over them, and a minute after entering I heard a gurgling noise on the other side of the partition. Deceased was sitting on a chair with his head back, and he was breathing heavily. His arms were hanging down, and his thumbs were turned inwards. I thought he had had a fit, and I sent for assistance. Mr. Carvosso went back with me, and discovered the phial produced marked "Poison." then started for a doctor, but not finding one I met Mr. Carl Baum, an assistant chemist at Sowter & Son's. I mentioned about the poison, and he gave deceased an antidote. Dr. Charles Gosse came immediately afterwards. Deceased was still breathing, and I believe he died abont 10 o'clock. I never saw him conscious from the time I first discovered him in the chair. Deceased was in good health, but be seemed troubled about what business he should go in for. There was nothing, however, in his conduct to lead me to think he would take his life. The following paper (produced) was in deceased's handwriting:—" Sept. 5,1881. Prussic acid I have taken. Be kind enough to break it to my family as gently as possible.—T. A." Dr. Charles Gosse said—I was called to see deceased at ten minutes to 10 o'clock yesterday. His pulse was almost imperceptible, and the breathing very slow. Mr. Carl Baum was in the office, and told me that deceased had taken poison, and that he had administered an antidote. The" bottle produced, which had contained prussic acid, WBS in the office empty, and deceased's breath had a strong smell of prussic acid. I had deceased laid on a couch, and he shortly afterwards breathed his last. The antidote was a preparation of iron first, and then magnesia, and the proper treatment. I was deceased's medical attendant, but he had not consulted me for several months. The bottle produced would hold quite sufficient prussic acid to poison a man. It was of the kind ordinarily prescribed in medicine.
Evening Journal Tuesday 06 September 1881 page 2
MILNE R L NEWMAN J WRIGHT William [4 unnamed policemen]