Bugler Harry LAWSON took poison
In loving memory of
Harry M. LAWSON
Bugler R.M.L.I (Royal Marine Light Infantry)
H.M.S. Rapid
Who died August 9th 1896
Aged 22 years
Beloved by all who knew him
Erected by his affectionate shipmates
New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10206, 10 August 1896, Page 5
DETERMINED SUICIDE.
A ROYAL MARINE TAKES POISON.
Last night, about half-past ten o'clock, a young man named Henry M. Lawson, a bugler of the Royal Marines, belonging to H.M.S. Rapid, committed suicide in the Coffee Palace, Lower Queen-street, under somewhat peculiar circumstances. Lt appears he came ashore in the afternoon, and was about the town. At about half past ten he called at the Coffee Palace in order to procure a bed for the night. He was shown one upstairs, and shortly afterwards came down again and asked for a cup of hot water— very hot. In passing to his room upstairs with the cup of hot water he asked some persons sitting at a table, jestingly, if they would have some whisky, After he got in he locked the door of his room. Shortly afterwards he was heard to cry out, I'm poisoned Come in!' An attempt was made to force the door, but it was unsuccessful, and a key was got. On the door being unlocked it was found that he had retched a little and was gasping slightly. An attempt was made to give him an emetic of mustard and water, but it proved fruitless, as he at once breathed his last. At the outset Dr. Hooper was telephoned for, but before his arrival the unfortunate young man was past all earthly aid. Constable McCarthy, who happened to be on his boat opposite the Coffee Palace, was informed of the affair, and he took charge of two empty bottles labelled 'Poison,’ found in deceased's possession, and the cup in which something had been mixed. One of the bottles was labelled chlorodyne, and bore the mark of a local chemist. The other bottle, also chlorodyne, appeared to have been procured in London. Owing to the suddenness of his death it is supposed he took something else than chlorodyne, oxalic acid being mentioned. Lawson was said to be sober at the time, and is stated to have been formerly a member of the Star of Newton Lodge I.O.G. T. Lawson was about 22 years of age, a native of Dartmoor, and has a brother a drummer in the Royal Marines at Home. His father is an official in Dartmoor Prison. Deceased's comrades ashore, on being notified of the affair, insisted on carrying the body of the deceased from the Coffee Palace to the morgue themselves, the police giving them the use of the stretcher. Dr. Philson. coroner, will no doubt hold the usual inquest today, when the circumstances surrounding Lawson's death will probably be elicited.[1]
Thames Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8427, 11 August 1896, Page 2
An inquest was held to-day on the body of Lawson, bugler of H.M.S. Rapid, who committed suicide in Waters' Coffee Palace, Queen street, last evening. It appears that he came in and asked for a bed, locked himself in the room, and took a dose of oxalic acid. The man died in five minutes. At the inquest, a verdict of felo de se was returned. Nothing has transpired to account for the rash act. He was keeping company with a girl, and intended trying to get his discharge to marry her.[2]
The HMS Rapid
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Rapid_(1883)
A few months earlier in February 1896 there was another suicide at Water's Coffee palace when John LEITH, new to Auckland shot himself through the mouth with a revolver
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
SOURCES:
[1]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZ...
[2]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
Bugler Harry LAWSON took poison
In loving memory of
Harry M. LAWSON
Bugler R.M.L.I (Royal Marine Light Infantry)
H.M.S. Rapid
Who died August 9th 1896
Aged 22 years
Beloved by all who knew him
Erected by his affectionate shipmates
New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10206, 10 August 1896, Page 5
DETERMINED SUICIDE.
A ROYAL MARINE TAKES POISON.
Last night, about half-past ten o'clock, a young man named Henry M. Lawson, a bugler of the Royal Marines, belonging to H.M.S. Rapid, committed suicide in the Coffee Palace, Lower Queen-street, under somewhat peculiar circumstances. Lt appears he came ashore in the afternoon, and was about the town. At about half past ten he called at the Coffee Palace in order to procure a bed for the night. He was shown one upstairs, and shortly afterwards came down again and asked for a cup of hot water— very hot. In passing to his room upstairs with the cup of hot water he asked some persons sitting at a table, jestingly, if they would have some whisky, After he got in he locked the door of his room. Shortly afterwards he was heard to cry out, I'm poisoned Come in!' An attempt was made to force the door, but it was unsuccessful, and a key was got. On the door being unlocked it was found that he had retched a little and was gasping slightly. An attempt was made to give him an emetic of mustard and water, but it proved fruitless, as he at once breathed his last. At the outset Dr. Hooper was telephoned for, but before his arrival the unfortunate young man was past all earthly aid. Constable McCarthy, who happened to be on his boat opposite the Coffee Palace, was informed of the affair, and he took charge of two empty bottles labelled 'Poison,’ found in deceased's possession, and the cup in which something had been mixed. One of the bottles was labelled chlorodyne, and bore the mark of a local chemist. The other bottle, also chlorodyne, appeared to have been procured in London. Owing to the suddenness of his death it is supposed he took something else than chlorodyne, oxalic acid being mentioned. Lawson was said to be sober at the time, and is stated to have been formerly a member of the Star of Newton Lodge I.O.G. T. Lawson was about 22 years of age, a native of Dartmoor, and has a brother a drummer in the Royal Marines at Home. His father is an official in Dartmoor Prison. Deceased's comrades ashore, on being notified of the affair, insisted on carrying the body of the deceased from the Coffee Palace to the morgue themselves, the police giving them the use of the stretcher. Dr. Philson. coroner, will no doubt hold the usual inquest today, when the circumstances surrounding Lawson's death will probably be elicited.[1]
Thames Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8427, 11 August 1896, Page 2
An inquest was held to-day on the body of Lawson, bugler of H.M.S. Rapid, who committed suicide in Waters' Coffee Palace, Queen street, last evening. It appears that he came in and asked for a bed, locked himself in the room, and took a dose of oxalic acid. The man died in five minutes. At the inquest, a verdict of felo de se was returned. Nothing has transpired to account for the rash act. He was keeping company with a girl, and intended trying to get his discharge to marry her.[2]
The HMS Rapid
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Rapid_(1883)
A few months earlier in February 1896 there was another suicide at Water's Coffee palace when John LEITH, new to Auckland shot himself through the mouth with a revolver
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
SOURCES:
[1]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZ...
[2]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...