SWEDISH IMMIGRANTS
- JOHNSON, JAMES
- SALEM, OLE (see NEWS below)
- WIDEMAN, PETER
08.05.1868
James JOHNSON, a digger aged 38 years died from "DISEASE OF THE HEART, SUDD". Informant was W King (Mudgee coroner) (NSW BDM 5178/1868)
Winesses: W Woodward and E Gray.
Place of death: Two Mile Flat
Place of burial: Guntawang
Born in Sweden
Length in Colony: 25 years
12.08.1889
PETER WIDEMAN, a miner aged 68, died from "GENERAL DEBILITY" of 6 months' duration. (NSW BDM 11586/1889)
Winesses: T McCarthy and James Lewis
Place of death: Gulgong
Place of burial: Gulgong
Born in SWEDEN
Length in Colony: 30 years
UNMARRIED
21.12.1889
OLE SALEM, a miner aged 57, died from "SUICIDE BY HANGING". ST Bishop, Coroner. (NSW BDM 11601/1889)
Witnesses: T McCarthy and J Crawford
Place of death: Gulgong
Place of burial: Gulgong
Born in Sweden
Length in Colony: unknown
UNMARRIED
NEWS ITEMS
NEWS ITEMS
1889 - SUICIDE IN A POLICE CELL.
On Friday last a good deal of surprise was occasioned when it became known that "Ole Solem," a well-known and hard-working miner, had been arrested at his camp, on the Perseverance Lead, by Constable Hicks, of Denison Town, on a charge of stealing a quantity of tools from the Heart Mine, the property of Mr. Albert Lowe, of Talbragar. The stolen property found in his possession was identified by Mr. Lowe and also by Mr. J. Gilbert, formerly manager of the mine.
"Saul" as he was generally called, was brought to the lock-up, and was last seen alive at 1 p.m. in the cell on the following day, and at 2 p.m., when Constable Blunt proceeded to the cell for the purpose of bringing the prisoner before the magistrates — Messrs. Bishop and Rouse — he was found hanging by his handkerchief to a ventilator in the side of the cell and quite dead. Deceased was respected, and even now many find it hard to believe in his guilt. That he was guilty there is no manner of doubt. He was known to be a very determined man, and supposed to be strictly honest. Only a few days previous to his arrest he paid to Mr. McDonough an account that he had owed for some time, and that he was trusted may be exemplified by the fact that Mr. Russell, of Unity House, had an account of about £10 against him. Deceased was 53 years of age and a native of Norway. He was formerly one of the shareholders in Shannon's claim, Black Lead, but recently gave that up and took work on the Talbragar, where the robbery was committed.
On Saturday evening a magisterial inquiry was held before Mr. S. T. Bishop, J.P., when the verdict was "That the deceased, 'Ole Solemn,' committed suicide by hanging, and that, according to the medical evidence, death was caused by dislocation of the vertebrae." "Ole Solem" was buried on Sunday morning, about seven persons attending the funeral. No burial service was read over the remains.
Source: Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW : 1851 - 1862; 1872; 1882; 1885 - 1897; 1899 - 1904) Mon 30 Dec 1889 Page 3
A man named Olesen hanged himself in the Gulgong lockup.
1889 - HANGED HIMSELF. In a Cell.
Gulgong, Monday, A man named Olesolem, a digger, was arrested by the police at Denison Town on a charge of stealing mining tools to the value of L2, and was brought here on Saturday for trial before the local bench. Prisoner hanged himself on Saturday evening in his cell by means of a pocket-handkerchief, which he fastened to a ventilator in the wall. The watchhouse-keeper spoke to him at 1 p.m., and on entering the cells at 2 p.m. found him dead, his feet being only a few inches from the ground.
He was a native of Norway, well known, and and considered to be an intelligent and respectable man. It is thought that shame induced him to commit suicide.
