Aged 27 years
Birth and parental information provided by R and J (#48362636)
In cemetery index as William Henry but NZBDM death index lists as William Martin Henry

NELSON EVENING MAIL, VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE 204, 5 SEPTEMBER 189
"A FATAL DOSE OF "ROUGH-ON-RATS. SAD END OF A YOUNG MAN.
On Saturday afternoon a young man was discovered lying in Victory Square, about tan yards from the Vanguard Street entrance. The man appeared to be in great pain, and as his condition was evidently serious, a message was sent to the Police Station. Sergt. McArdle at once despatched Constable Bird to the locality in a cab. Before the constable's arrival at Victory Square a number of people had gathered round the man, who, although apparently suffering greatly from cramping pains in the stomach, was able to walk to the cab. The unfortunate young fellow, who proved to be William Lefoe, a former licensee of the Belgrove Hotel, was driven to Dr Roberts' surgery. Poisoning was suspected, but on being questioned by Dr Roberts, Lefoe repeatedly denied having taken any poison. In answer to a further question, he said that he had not been drinking that morning, but that he had I had a few drinks the night before. Dr Roberts, after giving the man an emetic (which immediately acted) ordered his removal to the Hospital. On arrival at the Hospital he was further questioned by Dr Talbot as to whether he had taken poison. He repeated his denial, but the symptoms were very pronounced, and Dr Talbot treated the patient for arsenical poisoning. Lefoe grew worse in the evening, and about 10 o'clock. Dr Talbot telephoned to the Police Station that it would be advisable to take the man's depositions. Sergeant McArdle, in company with Mr Bethwaite, J.P., proceeded to the Hospital, and Lefoe, who was in a very weak state, was again questioned as to the poisoning. His condition and the importance of the truth being told was pointed out to him, and he then confessed that in consequence of domestic troubles he had taken some "Rougb-on-Rats" about half-past nine on Saturday morning. He stated that he had brought the poison with him from Wellington and be added : "I could not put up with my family troubles don't ask me any more; I took it myself ; nobody knew that I took it. Had I known I was going to suffer as long as this, I would not have taken it. I thought that ten minutes' punishment would have been about all I would have." Lefoe, by this time, was in a dying state, and at half past four yesterday morning he breathed his last, after much suffering. Before he died he said he had left the remainder of the box of " Rough On Rats" in a shed at the rear of his wife's shop in Hardy Street, and it was afterwards found there by Mr Bethwaite and Mrs Lefoe. The tragedy forms the closing scene of another young life ruined by an overpowering fondness for strong drink. In December last a prohibition order was issued against the deceased. Early in the year he went to the North Island with his wife and children, and for a short period they kept a boarding house at Masterton. He again gave way to strong drink, and his wife having decided to leave him, came to Nelson, where sbe obtained a protection order against him. She has since carried on a business in Hardy street. Last Friday, Lefoe arrived from Wellington and on that afternoon he went to sea his wife. She received him kindly and prepared a meal for him. He displayed great affection towards his wife and children, and asked the former if she would live with him again. She replied that she would not, as he had treated her so badly in the past and had broken so many promises that she was afraid to trust him. He went away but on Saturday morning he again went to see his wife. He did not then appear to be under the influence of drink. Mrs Lefoe made him a cup of tea which he drank. He afterwards went into the back yard with a cup, and a girl named Mary Coles saw him put something into the cup which he afterwards filled with water. On seeing that the girl noticed him, he said " Oh, I m making myself a drink. I'm thirsty. s ' He went back to the house where he was seen by Daisy Coles to stir and drink the contents of the Cup, He then carefully cleansed both cup and spoon and put them away. Neither of the girls paid any attention to the circumstance at the time, and it was not till after the man's removal to the hospital that they mentioned it to Mrs Lefoe. Lefoe left the house immediately after this. He shook hands with his wife and kissed the two children, at the same time bidding thorn good -bye and saying that they would not see him again. He then made the singular remark that "the Waihora is going at half-past twelve^ ' and left the house. Mrs Lefoe thought he was going to Wellington, she not being then aware that there was no steamer sailing that day, or that the Waihora does not visit Nelson. He appears, however, to have gone to Victory Square, where he was found as already described. His wife was with him when he died. From the appearance of the box of 'Rough on Bats," it is evident that it had been carried by deceased in his pocket for some time. A large quantity had been taken from the box. Deceased was a native of Victoria and was 27 years of age. He had no relatives in New Zealand, but his mother is living in Victoria."