Michael Murphy

221

D Wong on 1st December 2016

Michael Murphy was 32 years old on arrival and was transported for "House Robbery/Stealing money, about £10". Michael was 5' 3 1/2" tall, dark hair, grey eyes sallow complexion, illiterate. He was married - wife Margaret (America) ..seems to mean she was in America, (the convict ship America last arrived in VDL in 1831, which would be too early for his wife to be on) They had 2 children. 19/9/1854: TOL 31/7/1855: CP 6/3/1860: Michael married Jemima Moles (born Heron) widow of Joseph Moles (Asia 1840) - they had 3 children. Michael and Joseph worked together on the property of Dr. Sloane at Greens Creek, they were apparently farming partners. 22/3/1890 The Tasmanian, Launceston: Suicide at Green's Creek. LATROBE. March 17. A resident of Green's Creek, Port Sorell, named Patrick Murphy, committed suicide near hia own home by taking ' rough on rats,' last evening, in the presence of a little daughter eight years of age.'The' deceased leaves a wife and family. He attempted suicide about a year since. March 18. The inquest on the body of Michael Murphy, of Green's Creek, was held at his late residence this afternoon before Mr P. C. Maxwell, coroner, and a jury of seven, of whom Mr T. King was foreman. The evidence adduced clearly proved that deceased committed suicide deliberately by taking ' Rough on Rats,' and the jury without hesitating brought in a verdict to that effect. 22/3/1890 The Colonist, Launceston: Suicide. LATROBE, Mabch 18. An inquest was held this afternoon at 3 o'clock at Green's Creek on the body of Michael Murphy, before Mr P. C. Maxwell, coroner, and a jury of seven, of whom Mr Thomas King was foreman. Sub-Inspector Collett conducted the enquiry. Eurella Murphy deposed she accompanied her father up the paddock on Sunday evening last at his request, when he took a box (produced) and a bottle from his pocket and emptied the contents into a cup of tea and swallowed it. Witness ran to the house and gave the box to her mother. It was labelled poison, and contained 'Rough on Rats' mixture. Other evidence- was taken to show deceased attempted to commit suicide twice before, once by hanging and once by cutting his throat with a sickle. Dr. W. R. Stewart deposed he made a post mortem examination of deceased.. He stated death was caused by an irritant poison, probably arsenic, and that 'Rough on Rats' mixture contained a good deal of arsenic. A verdict of 'Deliberate suicide by taking poison' was returned.