Michael MCMAHON

Born C.1861 ^[116]
Labourer in Beaconsfield in 1903 ^[50]
Labourer of Woolwich Street in the Perth suburb of West Leederville in 1906 ^[50]
His wife Mary passed away at the age of 55 years on 27 March 1917 and was buried at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth ^[2]
Resided at 77 Woolwich Street in the Perth suburb of West Leederville ^{[120: 18-Jan-1918]}
Arrived in Winchester on Saturday 29 December 1917 to work for Louis P. PARKER on Glenwilli Farm in Winchester ^{[9: 4-Jan-1918]}
He was last seen on 31 December 1917 and on 1 January 1918 his body was found by his employer in a dam on Glenwilli Farm ^[9]
An inquest held in Moora on 2 January 1918 concluded that he had died from drowning and that he had downed himself ^{[10: 4-Jan-1918]}
He was buried in the Anglican section of the Moora Public Cemetery by Rev. Frederick W. GUNNING on 2 January 1918 ^[116]
His remains were exhumed 14 months later and on 17 March 1919 he was buried with his late wife at the Karrakatta Cemetery ^[2]
Father of Michael Peter, John Patrick, Margaret Mary and Thomas Joseph ^{[120: 18-Jan-1918]}
Died 1 January 1918 in Winchester; buried Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth WA (Roman Catholic, EC, 367) ^{[2] [10: 4-Jan-1918]}


From The Moora Herald and Midland Districts Advocate newspaper, Friday 4 January 1918:
Suicide at Winchester
"An inquest was held at the Moora Court House, on Wednesday, upon the remains of a man supposed to be named W. McMahon who was found drowned the previous day in a dam on the property of Mr. L. Parker, at Winchester. Mr. W. S. Ralston (Acting Coroner), conducted the inquiry with a jury consisting of Messrs. Ivan C. Campbell, Reg. Parker and E. Hellewell. Constable Honner [of Three Springs] gave evidence of recovering the body and deposed that deceased hands and feet were tried together with strips of old bagging. The knots were tied in a fashion suggestive that deceased had secured them himself. There were no marks of violence on the body and only one set of tracks led down to the water's edge. Every indication led to the belief that the man had deliberately drowned himself. Dr. Macdonald Allan gave evidence of conducting a post-mortem examination on the remains. He had found death was due to downing. There were no marks of violence on the body that had been caused before death took place. The hands and feet of deceased were loosely tied with the knots on the inside. It was possible for the deceased to tie knots himself. All the deceased organs were in a very unhealthy state and the appearance of the stomach was consistent with heavy drinking. The jury brought in a verdict that deceased had met his death by drowning; and that he had drowned himself."


From The Midlands Advertiser newspaper, Friday 4 January 1918:
Suicide at Winchester
"On Wednesday last, Constable Honner, of Three Springs, brought the body of a man about 52 years of age, and supposed to be named M. McMahon, from Winchester. On Saturday last, the man arrived at Winchester under engagement from the Westralia Agency, Perth, to Mr Lou Parker. He appeared to be very quiet and from all appearances was recovering from a drinking bout. He was last seen on the night of the 31st ult., when he appeared all right. On the 1st, Mr Parker had occasion to visit a dam about quarter of a mile from his residence, and saw on the edge of the dam some clothing, and also found tracks leading into the water. He got a rake and eventually brought the body of the man to the surface. The body was clothed in pyjamas and both legs and arms tied with bagging. An inquest was opened and concluded at Moora, on the 2nd inst., before W. S. Ralston, J. P., acting coroner, and jurors Ivan Campbell, Reg. Parker and E. Hellewell. After hearing the evidence, the jury brought in the following verdict:- "That deceased came to his death at Winchester on or about the first day of January by drowning, and that he wilfully drowned himself." P.C. Pimblett appeared for the police."

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