Harry Charles Bromley [36950]

  Noted events in his life were:

• Newspaper: MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY, 1909 Feb 11, Kilmore, , Victoria, Australia. ¹ MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY. (1909, February 11). Kilmore Free Press (Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 -1954), p. 3 Edition: MORNING.. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58274121>

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY. On Thursday afternoon a magisterial inquiry was held before Mr T. Hunt, J.P., at the courthouse, touching the death of Harry Charles Bromley, when the following evidence was taken:-
Frederica Jane Bromley deposed-Am wife of Harry Charles Bromley. Reside in Albert-street. Last saw him alive about six o'clock on Wednesday morning when be left home to go to work as usual. Saw his body to-day at the hospital morgue. Identify the body as that of my husband. He was about 43 years of age. Did not notice anything out of the ordinary about his demeanor. He never made any remark about taking his life. He left home on the best of terms with myself and family.
John Patrick O'Connor deposed--Am a laborer, residing in Gipps-street, Kilmore. Heard of absence of deceased last night about six o'clock. Went out about half-past eight this morning to make a search for him. Went to Kilmore show grounds and found him hanging by the neck to a rafter in the building used as a bar. Sent William Cushen to report the matter to the police. Recognised the body as that of Harry Charles Bromley. It was about nine o'clock when I found the body as stated.
William Charles Martin, deposed-Am a cordial manufacturer, residing in Gipps-street, Kilmore. Deceased, whose body. I saw and recognised, was in my employment for about 25 years. Last saw him alive on Tuesday evening about half-past eight, and he was is his usual demeanor. He never mentioned anything about suicide. Do not know of anything to cause him to do so.
Mounted-Constable Dermoudy deposed -In consequence of report made to the police this morning I visited the show grounds. The body of deceased, Harry Bromley, was pointed out to me by John O'Connor. The body was suspended from a rafter in the building used as a booth. There was a double rope around the neck, and the feet were about eighteen inches off the ground. Examined the body which was quite cold, and found no marks of violence on the body, only the rope marks around the neck, from which he was evidently suf-focated. Had the body placed in a cart and removed to the Kilmore hospital morgue. There were no suspicious circumstances sur-rounding the case. He could not well have placed the rope around the rafter without getting on the counter from which he evidently dropped off.
Sergeant O'Brien corroborated the evidence of last witness, and was of opinion death occurred about 24 hours previously.
A verdict was returned that Harry Charles Bromley came to his death by hanging whilst in a state of temporary in-sanity.

• Newspaper: Shocking Suicide, 1909 Feb 11, Kilmore, , Victoria, Australia. ² Shocking Suicide. (1909, February 11). Kilmore Free Press(Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 -1954), p. 3 Edition: MORNING.. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58274123>

On Thursday morning last the town was deeply shocked when it became known that Mr Harry O, Bromley had committed suicide by hanging himself, and as the sad news spread the whole district and neighbor-ing towns were overcast with gloom; many people did not credit the news, and made inquiry to find if such were true, as he was about the last man one would think likely to end his own existence. The facts sur-rounding the melancholy event are brief.
On Tuesday evening of last week deceased finished his work at Mr W. C. Martin's aerated water factory for the day-aye, for ever-and went home at about 8 30. On Wednesday morning, according to his usual custom, he left his home at about six o'clock, went and fed two horses in the stable, left a feed ready for a third, which was in a paddock north of the show grounds, and then went to the paddock, let the horse out and sent it home, and never returned him-self. It was customary to let the horses out of the paddock and they would go home themselves, but on the morning mentioned deceased took a bridle with him, this being a very unusual proceeding. On the way to the padlock Mr Bromley met Mr J. P. Ahearn, who was going to the track with his-racehorses. Deceased phased complimentary remarks on the horses, had a joke with Mr Ahearn, and passed on, never for one moment giving the slightest evidence of the awful deed of self-destruction he perpetrated a short time afterwards. Mr Ahearn was probably the last person deceased spoke to, and evidently he went on to the paddock, let his horse out, and then returned to the show grounds, entered the booth and hanged himself. When he failed to return to his home or the factory in reasonable time a search was made for him, it being feared that be had met with an accident with the horse, but no tidings could be found, and the matter was reported to the police, who had the neighbor-hood thoroughly searched, but without result. It was then thought he had gone away, or perhaps wandered into the bush; not one thought was entertained that he had taken his own life. It was de-cided to send out a big search party next morning to scour the country, but there was no need-long ere this the poor fellow was beyond the aid of all search parties, save to bring in his body. During the Wednesday night Mr J. P. O'Connor, an old friend and neighbor of deceased's-they had played together as boys, and reached manhood within a few yards of each other-could not rest, having a presentiment that his friend's body was in the show grounds. He went there on Thursday morning and to his horror found his foreboding only too true the body of his friend in life was there, in the grim cold grasp of death, but calm and composed, with an expression as if the spark of life had gone out with some beauti-ful thought. Mr O'Connor, although expect-ing to find deceased's body, was almost over come with the shock, but lost no time in sending word to the police, who were promptly on the scene and had the body re-moved to the hospital morgue. Deceased was fully dressed, with the exception of his coat, and even had his watch on. The bridle was not used, and was found along side the counter ; the unfortunate man used a rope for his purpose, but where he obtained it is not definitely known. He left nothing to show the reason of the terrible act, but it is understood deceased was a good deal worried for some time over private matters. Some years back he received serious injuries to the head through an accident in Mill-street, and twice subsequently he had his head hurt through accidents ; the
after results of these injuries were, no doubt, responsible for the tragedy, the brain giving way finally under the mental strain. Mr Bromley, who was 43 years of age, was second son of the late Mr and Mrs W. F. Bromley, and a native of Kilmore. He had been employed at Mr W. C. Martin's cordial factory for close upon 30 years; this was the only place he ever worked. He was a particular favorite with all classes, being amiable and witty to a degree, and was generally looked upon as the happiest man in the district ; it is in-deed hard to realise that one so light-hearted should die by his own hand. He never once exhibited the merest sign of the end that was to come, or that he was troubled in his mind-not even within an hour of his death. In his day he was a leading pedestrian, and won scores of races; later he acted as honorary handicapper to all sur-rounding sports clubs; as a horseman he had few equals, a peculiar feature being that he could manage a horse better bareback than with a saddle; as a whip it could al-most be said there were none his superior he could drive a pair of horses and a waggon at a hard pace between posts where only a couple inches of spare room were available. Deceased was a past officer of the Oddfel-lows' Lodge, and was at one time a mem-ber of the local fire brigade, being captain for some year as-with these two exceptions he did not bother about public life. He was particularly kind-hearted-in fact he was childish in his kindness, and could not bear the thought of an unkind act either to humanity or animals, and yet he took his own life in one of the most violent forms. Mr Bromley was a devoted husband and father, and was never happier than when on the way home to his wife and children after a long and heavy day's work. He leaves a widow and three daughters to mourn their loss, and the sympathy ex-pressed with them is profound.
The remains were interred on Friday in Church of England portion of the general cemetery, the funeral being a lengthy one. Rev. R. Leck conducted the burial service at the grave.

Harry married Frederica Jane de Courcey [36949] [MRIN: 14132], daughter of Thomas de Courcey [36956] and Unknown, on 1889 Mar 30 in Melbourne, , Victoria. (Frederica Jane de Courcey [36949] was born before 1874 and died after 1919 Feb 11.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Newspaper: Family Notices, 1889 Apr 1, Melbourne, , Victoria. ³ Family Notices. (1889, April 1). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 -1956), p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6235631>

BROMLEY '97MEADE. '97On the 30th ult., at St. Paul's Church, by the Rev. W. Stacey Chapman, Harry Charles, eldest son of the late W. F. Bromley, Kilmore, to Frederica Jane, third daughter of the late Thomas de Courcey Meade Kilmore.

• Newspaper: Family Notices, 1909 Feb 11, Kilmore, , Victoria, Australia. ⁴ Family Notices. (1909, February 11). Kilmore Free Press(Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 -1954), p. 2 Edition: MORNING.. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58274140>

Bereavement Notice.
MRS H. C. BROMLEY and FAMILY desire to return their sincere THANKS to their many kind friends for personal visits, cards and letters of sympathy during their recent sad bereavement, also to Rev. R. Leek, Sergeant O'Brien, Constable Dermoudy, Mr J. P. O'Connor, and the Kilmore Hospital Staff for kind services rendered.