Sensational Suicide at Red Hill -Grave Tales

From the Kalgoorlie Miner 13th May 1905
MAN BLOWS HIS FACE AWAY

Towards 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon a man named Henry Colley describing himself as a miner, residing at Red Hill (Former name of Kambalda), reported to the Kalgoorlie police that about 10 o’clock that morning a man named Edward Clayton (whose real name was supposed to be Hassell) came to where the motorman was at work on the Shotover lease, and asked him to take charge of two letters, which were duly handed over. Clayton or Hassell’ then left but after going a short distance he sang out to Colley. ‘Don’t let those letters go put of your possession:- Colley, who then looked at the two letters, saw that one was marked ‘Police’ and the other was addressed to ”Mrs. Hassell, Heathcote. Victoria”

Cofley further stated that he lost sight of the other man for the time being, as he (Colley) went below into the hole in which he had been working. He then climbed out of the shaft, and gazed around him. He beard an explosion, and ran towards the spot where it had occurred. There he found Clayton (or Hassell)  lying on his back. The front portion of the man’s head had been blown clear away.

Colley said that he did not stop to make many investigations, but started, almost immediately from Red Hill to bring news of the occurrence to the police in Kalgoorlie. Colley has handed to the Police the two letters which were entrusted to him by the now deceased man. Information concerning the affair was communicated to the Coolgardie police at a later period. They have in hand the necessary arrangements for taking charge of the body and conducting an inquest.

Red Hill (Kambalda) Pioneer Cemetery

Coolgardie Miner 15 May 1905