Joseph Breese - Suicide by Strawberries

 On 6th of January 1908 the body of 22 year old Joseph Breese was found lying on a bank above the beach at St Heliers Bay. Beside his body was a large tin of potassium cyanide. It seems Joseph had also purchased some strawberries on the way to the beach, perhaps a better tasting way of administering the poison.

A letter and a postcard were found in his pockets, the postcard addressed to a young lady from Dunedin who was staying in Auckland. It read “Dear Laura,—You will get a letter at Rendell's two weeks from to-day and another a week after that. If not, you will get them at Jamieson's. If anything is got out of the letter, you know what to do. Please tell my people not to fret. I am no loss. I wish Fred and you all luck in your undertaking. Do not fret. I am going, I hope, to my mother and sisters. Farewell, for ever."

Joseph’s employer Mr J. Rendell, draper Karangahape Rd, identified his body and said that when he had seen him 5 days earlier he was in fine spirits and was expected at work the day he died. It was revealed at the inquest into Joseph’s death that some time before he had been told that his services were likely to be dispensed with. A verdict of wilful suicide was finally reached.

Also at the inquest The Coroner explained to the jury that the tin of cyanide of potassium found beside Joseph’s lifeless body contained sufficient poison to kill 200 hundred people, was the deadliest poison known, would kill a man inside 2 minutes and yet could be purchased for 1s 6d a tin from pretty well any chemist or storekeeper. When a juryman suggested that it should be restricted The Coroner explained that it was used in large quantities in mining operations and went on to add “If you have any influence with the member for the district in which you reside let him try to have the sale restricted and see what luck he has”.

Presbyterian Division B, Row 2,

Plot 27a: Joseph Thomas (82) 1907 – Carpenter – both headstones broken & face down

Plot 27a-b: John Breese (22) 1908 – Porter 

Edith Mary Dunlop (24) 1913 – sister to John Breese

Plot 27b: Janet Davie Thomas

Joseph Richard Thomas – Miner

In Loving Memory of EDITH MAY DUNLOP beloved wife of John Dunlop (of Dunedin) died 10 Aug. 1913 aged 23 years

In Loving Memory of JANET beloved wife of Joseph THOMAS died 18 June 1916 aged 72 years also father JOSEPH THOMAS aged 82 years also her husband JOSEPH RICHARD THOMAS who died 4 Aug. 1925 aged 79 years

Sources: PapersPast
SUPPOSED SUICIDE., Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6, 7 January 1908
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19080107.2.70

"FAREWELL FOR EVER.", New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13641, 8 January 1908
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19080108.2.83

Compiled by Geri Eccles, Discover Waikumete