Cudgegong Valley History Project

PASTORALIST COMMIT SUICIDE. Mr. Samuel Pickett, a well-known pastoralist, residing at Long Gully, about 14 miles from Rylstone, is reported to have committed suicide. Deceased, who was 76 years of age, had been suffering from ill health for the past four or five years, and had recently been much worried with fear that his stock would perish during the coming winter. He took a dose of strychnine, and refused any emetic. He had spent the greater part of his life in the district, and had reared a family of twelve, all of whom, with their mother, survive him. (Sunday Times, Sunday 20 April 1902, p. 8).

LATEST NEWS BY WIRE. [Press Telegraph Association.] SYDNEY A SAD SUICIDE. Samuel Pickett, senr., aged 76, residing at Long Gully, near Rylstone, committed suicide by taking a dose of strychnine from a bottle kept in the house for poisoning dogs. He lingered several hours. Though evidently he underwent great agony, he resolutely refused to take an emetic. He had been in ill health for four or five years past; this, added to the fear that he would lose all his stock for want of feed during the coming winter, brought about a feeling of despondency. (Maitland Daily Mercury, Tuesday 15 April 1902, p. 3)

AN OLD RESIDENT OF LUE. POISONS HIMSELF WITH STRYCHNINE. DEPRESSED BY DROUGHT. (from our Correspondent). On Saturday morning, the 12th instant, between 9 and 10 o'clock, Mr. Samuel Pickett, farmer of Long Gully near Lue, informed his wife and son that he had taken poison, but his statement was at first not believed. Some two hours afterwards symptoms of strychnine poisoning showed them-selves, Mr. Pickett having a fit, followed by another an hour and a half later, in which he died. Deceased, who was in his 77th year, was a native England, and had been residing at Long Gully for forty years, where he made a comfortable home for himself. Mr. Pickett reared a large family of sons and daughters, all of whom are married. During the past few years Mr. Pickett suffered from bad health, especially so for the last six months, and was often heard to say that he wished he was dead, as he was only a trouble to himself and those members of his family near him, but he was never heard to threaten to take his own life. The desolation of the drought had recently worried the deceased, who became much depressed as it became more and more evident that many of his stock would perish. A bottle with a small quantity of strychnine in it was kept on a shelf in the kitchen, for the purpose of poisoning dogs, and deceased must have taken this into his bedroom the night before he took the fatal dose, as he did not leave his room on Saturday until about half-past nine in the morning, when he made the statement of having taken the poison. A cup of tea had been taken to deceased by his wife early in the morning, and appearances indicated that he poured a portion of the tea into the strychnine bottle, stirred the contents and then drank it. Deceased was much respected in the locality in which he so long resided, and very general sympathy is expressed for the members of his family, many of whom occupy good positions in the district. An inquest held at Long Gully on Tuesday, before Wm. Taylor, J.P., Coroner, and a jury of five, when a verdict was returned, of death by strychnine poisoning self administered. The re-mains were interred at Lue. (Mudgee Guardian and North Western Representative Thursday 17 April 1902, p. 11)

DEATH AT LUE.

We regret to have to record the death of a very old resident of Lue, in the person of Mrs. Ann Pickett at the advanced age of 88 years of age. Her death took place on the 28th July at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. J. Thompson, of the LueHotel, with whom she had resided since the death of her husband (Mr. Samuel Pickett) some twelve years ago. The deceased lady had been a resident of the district for over sixty years. She leaves a family of 4 sons and 8 daughters, besidesgrandchildren and great-grand children. The funeral was very largely attended. The Rev. Mr. Walker, of Rylstone, officiated at the graveside. (Mudgee Guardian and North Western Representative, Thursday 14 August 1913, p. 23).

Obituary, MR. MAURICE WALSH, LUE. The death occurred on Wednesday week of Mr. Maurice Walsh, of Monavae Station, Lue. Mr. Walsh was a native of the district. He was born at Havilah in 1857, the son of the late Mr. Michael Walsh, an employee of Havilah Station, and Mrs. Michael Walsh. Forty years ago Mr. Maurice Walsh removed to Lue to take up a position on the Monavae Estate. He worked on the estate under the successive proprietorships of Mr. V. Dowling, Mr. D. Clark, and Mr. James McMaster, up to the time of his death. He married in 1868, Miss Ellen Gordon, who as his widow survives him. The following children of the marriage survive: - Messrs. William Maurice Walsh (Mudgee), Arthur Thomas Walsh (Monovae), sons; Mesdames J. Comer (Gulgong), J. Potts (Lue), Misses Ellen Alice Walsh, Fanny Elizabeth Walsh, and Blanche Lousia Walsh (Monavae), daughters. The Walsh family is large and is well known and highly respected throughout the Mudgee district. Bers and sisters of the late Mr. Walsh are Messrs. William Walsh (Monavae), Thomas (Gulgong), and Joseph (Havilah), Misses Fannie Walsh and Annie Walsh (Havilah). There are also several grandchildren and a large number of nephews and nieces, the nephews including Alderman William Walsh (Cudgegong Borough Council, Mudgee) and Frank Walsh (Mudgee). A sad feature of the death is that Mrs. Maurice Walsh is an invalid, as she has been for many years, and so is the youngest daughter. The interment was made at the Lue cemetery, on Thursday afternoon. The funeral cortege was unusually large and representative, and prominent amongst the mourners was Mr. James McMaster, Monavae Station. The funeral ceremonies were conducted by the Very Rev.. Father Flanagan, P.P., V.F., St. Mary's, Mudgee. - R.I.P. Freeman's Journal, Thursday 1 July 1920, p. 34. Obituary Maurice Walsh

Headstone reads: In Loving Memory of Maurice Walsh Died 16th June 1920 Aged 69 Years.

Ellen Walsh Died 24th July 1923 Aged 74 Years May They Rest In Peace.

THE LATE MR. W. M. WALSH. The death occurred on Saturday, in the Mudgee Hospital, of Mr. William Morris Walsh. For many years deceased was employed on Lue Station, first under Mr. W. V. Dowling, and subsequently under Messrs. W. D. Raffan and D. Clark. About three years ago he came to Mudgee, where he followed droving and other occupations. He was a son of the late Mr. Morris Walsh and Mrs. Walsh, of Lue. A widow and the following children survive : - Mrs. A. R. Crewdson, Kandos : Doy, Kathleen, and Florence, Mudgee ; Wallace, Thomas, Leonard, Morris, and William. Deceased's mother is still living, and a number of bers and sisters, several of whom are settled in the Lue district. Mr. H. Barton conveyed the body to Lue, where it will be interred in the Church of England portion of the cemetery. Mr. F. Winfield, of Lue, will read the burial service (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 7 May 1923, p. 6).

Obituary HELEN WALSH. The death occurred at Lue, on Monday morning last, of Helen Walsh, aged 84 years. Deceased, who had been an invalid for a considerable time, was a resident of the Lue district for a great number of years. Her husband pre-deceased her about three years ago. She is survived by one son, Michael, who resides at Monivae, Lue, and the following daughters: Mrs. John Coomber (Gulgong), and the Misses Alice, Blanche, and Fanny (Lue). The late Mr. William Walsh, who recently died in Mudgee, was also a son. Deceased was a most highly respected resident, and had many friends, all of whom will deeply sympathise with her relatives. She was buried yesterday afternoon in the Roman Catholic portion of the Lue cemetery, the Rev. Father E. J. Flanagan of Mudgee officiating. The funeral arrangements were conducted by Mr. H. Barton, of Mudgee. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 26 July 1923, p. 14. Obituary Helen Walsh

Headstone reads: In Loving Memory of Maurice Walsh Died 16th June 1920 Aged 69 Years.

Ellen Walsh Died 24th July 1923 Aged 74 Years May They Rest In Peace.

Leadville Man Killed in Smash A Leadville man, Leonard Walsh (58), father of a large family, died late on Friday night as a result of injuries he received in a road smash earlier in the night. He died in Gulgong Hospital at 11 o’clock. The accident occurred about eight miles north of Gulgong on the Gulgong-Dunedoo road at about 7.30 p.m. Walsh, a Prickly Pear Commission employee, was returning home to Leadville in a land rover when the front of the tray on a six-ton lorry driven by R. Betteridge. The force of the collision overturned the land rover, extensively damaging it and the lorry ran off the side of the road but did not overturn. Walsh was found underneath his vehicle. Betteridge escaped unharmed. Walsh received a fractured skull, fractured left arm, fractured right leg and severe lacerations. Betteridge’s truck was one of a convoy of four trucks taking oats from Birriwa Station to Widden Valley. Both men were travelling alone. The deep sympathy of town and district people will go out to his sorrowing widow and family, Carol, Robert, Maxwell, Brain, Grahame, Roger and Laurence. His funeral was to have taken place today from the Church of England, Gulgong. Eastaugh and Carroll handling arrangements. Mudgee Guardian, 5 March 1962, p. 1. Death notice Leonard Walsh

Leadville News Local Man Killed In Road Smash Gloom was cast over the town on Saturday at noon when news of the shocking fatal accident on the Gulgong-Dunedoo road the previous night was released. The dead man, Leonard Walsh (58), of Garland Street, Leadville, was employed by the Prickly Pear Commission and was on his way home when the accident occurred. Mr. Walsh, better known as 'Trapper' Walsh, leaves a wife and seven children to mourn his loss. To them we extend sincere sympathy. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 8 March 1962, p. 22. Death notice Leonard Walsh

Obituary Mr. Leonard Walsh Residents were shocked to learn of the death of Mr Leonard Walsh as a result of injuries received in a collision on Friday, March 2, on the Gulgong-Dunedoo Road. Mr. Walsh, a Prickly Pear Commission employee, was returning home from work. The late Mr. Walsh was born at Lue 58 years ago and spent his early life in the Lue and Mudgee district and later worked at Lithgow where he married Miss Enid Ashby. Mr. Walsh was a member of the Buffalo Lodge in which he held a high position, and was also a keen worker for the A.L.P. in this electorate. He leaves a sorrowing widow and family, Carol, Robert, Maxwell, Brian, Graham, Rodger and Laurence. Also to mourn his loss is his 91 years old mother Mrs. Emily Walsh, of Corrimal, and sisters, Mrs. Elsie Wade, of Mudgee, Mrs. Gladys Crewdson and Mrs. Kathleen Newbold, of Lithgow, and bers Wallace, of Narrabri, Tom, of Coniston, Maurice of Punchbowl, and William, of Corrimal. The funeral took place on Monday, March 5, from the Church of England church, Gulgong. Rev. Barrie Close, of Coolah, conducted the service at the church and graveside at the Gulgong Cemetery. Pallbearers were Messrs. R. Marsh, W. Wheeler, J. Nobles and M. Moore; employees of the Prickly Pear Commission. Eastaugh & Carroll had charge of the funeral arrangements. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 15 March 1962, p. 26. Obituary Leonard Walsh