2011 - Theses - Flinders University

a number of half-castes outside the door of the hut. I then sent two half-castes (Steve andSamuel Coulthard) to Angepena Station, about twelve miles distant, to telephone Copleyfor the police.Andy Coulthard and I were present after Mr Page cut his thoat, and when he died I foldedhis arms across his chest, and covered the body with a blanket, but I have left everythingelse in the room the same as I found it. I do not know of any person who actually saw MrPage cut his throat. I believe that I was the last person to whom Mr Page spoke, before hecut his throat.Mr Page did not say to me at any time that he was intending to commit suicide, neither didhe say what was the matter with him.ANDY COULTHARD (half-caste aboriginal) 33 years of age, and residing at NepabunnaMission states:-I have known Mr Page of this Mission only for the last three weeks.Since last Friday when the mail arrived at this Mission, Mr Page seemed a different man,and very worried, but I never suspected or heard him say that he was going to commitsuicide.I spoke to the mail driver today, to persuade Mr Page to go away and see a doctor. I wasspeaking to mail driver when I heard a gurgling sound coming from the hut of Mr Page.The mail driver and I entered the hut, and I saw Mr Page lying on the floor with his throatcut, and I heard him saying something like ‘Don’t worry about me.’ I saw the mail driverplace a bandage over throat of Mr Page, and I stayed in the room with the mail driver untilMr Page died.EDWARD COULTHARD (half caste aboriginal) 58 years of age, residing at NepabunnaMission, states:-The deceased now lying dead in the kitchen of the hut at the Nepabunna Mission, is thedead body of James Page – the late Superintendent of this Mission – aged about 30 years.I have known Mr Page for eight years, and he was well liked by almost all the people here,except a half crazy gin, named Nellie Driver, who was jealous, and suspected Mr Page ofnot giving her as much rations as other people here.I have never heard that Mr Page was too intimate with the young girls at this Mission. MrPage seemed alright until he received the mail at about 3pm on Friday last.From last Friday, Mr Page seemed very worried, and I said to him, ‘Are you feeling ill, MrPage?’Mr Page said, ‘I don’t want a doctor or medicine, but I would like to go to Beltana and seethe Rev. Patterson.I did not hear Mr Page say that he would commit suicide.REBECCA FORBES (the only European woman residing at Nepabunna Mission) states:-135