Son of Samuel Allardyce & Jessie McQueen.

Husband of Elspeth McColl.

Samuel once leased Niagaroon Station, owned the Alexandra and Yea Standard briefly, he started a mill at Crystal Creek to cut timber from the Niagaroon Forest and owned Riversdale station.

Alexandra Standard Friday 25 October 1895 DEATH OF MR. S. ALLARDYCE, JP. Following so closely upon the sudden death of Dr. McConnochie, the news that Mr. Allardyce had poisoned himself early on Saturday morning considerably startled the residents of the township when each became known, and the painful intelligence was the chief topic of conversation during the day. At first it was scarcely credited that the esteemed 'erstwhile owner of Riversdale station could or would destroy himself, but as the facts began to be gleaned of the worries he had of late been subject to and the depression of spirits such had occasioned him all doubts as to the correctness of the news were dissipated, and pity at so sad an ending of a life and sympathy-deep sympathy -for the children left behind-were expressed on all sides and by all classes. Samuel Allardyce was born near Balmoral, in Scotland, In the year 1833, and emigrated to Australia at about the age of 20. He followed the pursuit of agriculture and was a progressive farmer, being, in fact, in advance of the times in this colony. Subsequently he purchased Riversdale Station, and the improvements he effected on that estate are well-known to all old residents of this district. A great lover of equine stock, Mr. Allardyce went extensively into the breeding of horses, and imported some of the best Clydesdales seen in this part of the colony. He bred chiefly for the Indian market, and at one period sold large numbers to buyers for that market. He had not been long established at Riversdale before his abilities were recognised and a request made that he should enter Into municipal life. Acceding to the wishes of the people he was returned to the local Parliament and subsequently became President of the shire, remaining a councilor for many years. He was one of the foremost and staunchest advocates of beautifying the township, and to his persistency in that direction the present inhabitants of Alexandra are in the main indebted for the beautiful appearance presented by our streets by reason of the trees planted during Mr. Allardyce's regime. He was an excellent councilor and a good citizen, and his worth was generally recognised. In his own home a kinder husband a more loving father or a more genial host could not be desired. In his business relations Mr. Allardyce was the acme of regularity, it being a regular practice of his to go round at the end of every month to settle his business and private accounts. As has happened to thousands of other good men circumstances suddenly occurred which turned his prosperity into adversity. Business promises, faithfully made to him, according to his own version, which we have no reason to disbelieve, were ruthlessly and cruelly broken, and from that period Mr. Allardyce began to lose heart and hope. He struggled hard against his misfortunes but Fate seemed to be against him, and the loss of Riversdale seriously affected his mind. Other properties also went from his hands, until at last he had to accept the management of the Cathkin estate. Proud in spirit he strove manfully to maintain the dignity of the positions he had attained, but the harshness of human nature was too much for him in the end, and his mind became unhinged. For some few weeks prior to his death those associated with him and the acquaintances he met noticed a great change in his manner and bearing, and he appeared unable to comprehend properly information imparted to him, On Friday night he became very despondent, owing to monetary troubles, and his daughter Clara sat up with him until after 2 o'clock the following morning. The remainder of the painful proceedings up to the time of bhis death is given In the following evidence taken at the inquest: THE INQUIRY. A magisterial inquiry was held on Sunday morning at the Cathkin hotel, by Mr. Fred. Wheeler, J.P., touching the death of Mr. S. Allardyce, J.P. The following evidence was given: Clara May Allardyce deposed: Am a daughter of deceased and have resided with my father at Cathkin for last five months; noticed his health giving way about three weeks ago, being very much depressed In mind; during the last weeks be became very much worse mentally, being troubled with monetary matters and unnecessary. so; latterly he magnified those troubles so much that he had delusions about them; I came to the conclusion that his mind was deranged, but not sufficient to cause any fear for his safety; On Friday night he became much worse, and I sat up with him until 2.80 a.m.; I was awoke on Saturday morning about 6.30 by someone knocking at front of house ; on looking out I saw Mr. Alston going away from the house and asked my father why de did not let Mr. Alston in; my father was partly dressed and he replied 'It didn't matter as he would be dead soon ;' I asked him why he thought that; He said ' because I have taken a dose of strychnine;' I then went to get some hot water and mustard, etc., to use as an emetic; while I was away he went out and on returning he was dripping wet ; I asked him how he got wet and he said he had been in the creek I got off his clothes as quickly as possible and put him into bed and administered two doses of mustard and water I then went for assistance and called Mr. Heeps; deceased was trembling terribly and he became worse with pain after taking the emetic ; he suffered terrible agony ; Mr. Alston then came and went for help Mr. B. O'Callaghan then came ; deceased said he did not know what he was doing when taking the poison and was very sorry for having done so; the spasms occurred at intervals until within five minutes of his death, which occurred at about 8 o'clock ; I am quite satisfied that on Friday night he was not in his right mind; deceased prayed earnestly during the intervals of the spasms. Deceased e age was sixty-two last March; strychnine was always kept In the house for the purpose of poisoning vermin, but during his illness I had forgotten its presence, otherwise I would have removed it; deceased told me he thought a bailiff would come on Saturday and that it would be better for him to die than bring disgrace upon the family. H. W. Alston deposed: Knew deceased and went to his residence on Saturday morning; I could not obtain any response to my knocking and not knowing whether any one was living there went to the station to make enquiry; before leaving I heard a noise as of some furniture being moved, and returned at once as I saw smoke issuing from the chimney of the house - I was met by last witness, who said she was glad to see me as she required help, her father having poisoned himself, also that be had been in the creek ; I ran into deceased's bed room and shook hands with him and asked what I could do; Miss Allardyce said she had given an emetic and I then went for assistance sending to Mr. Dunn and also to Alexandra for the doctor and police; I returned with Mr. P. Dunn, but death took place just as we reached the door; when I first saw deceased he said, ' How are you my dear fellow--yon have come for my body and soul'; I replied, 'Neither'; as a matter of fact I had no business with him; I asked him what he had taken, and he replied, 'I feel very-' when a convulsive fit seized and stopped him; deceased then prayed; he evidently labored under the delusion that I had an execution to enforce; I had no process of any kind against deceased. B O'Callaghan deposed that during the past few weeks be had noticed a great change in the mental condition of deceased, and from the peculiarity of his manner he considered him to be slightly deranged; he was called on Saturday to see deceased he was lying on bed, and after shaking hands said 'Good bye--be kind enough to remember me to all friends'; emetics were administered and deceased suffered terribly; remained with him until he died. James Dunn deposed: Deceased came to my residence on Tuesday or Wednesday last to seek advice on a matter of business; he did not then appear to comprehend the contents of a document I had to read to him, and could not bring his mind to bear on the subject in hand; he did not appear to be in his right mind and of late had been very absentminded; have known deceased about 26 years, and am satisfied that had deceased been of sane mind he would not have attempted to injure himself. C, F. Lethbridge deposed to making a post mortem examination on body of deceased and to finding the presence of strychnine in the stomach after analysis; the cause of death was poisoning by strychnine, evidences of which were quite unmistakable. A verdict was returned that deceased died from a dose of strychnine, self administered, during a fit of temporary insanity. THE FUNERAL. On Monday the remains of deceased were interred in the Alexandra cemetery, being laid alongside those of his beloved wife. The funeral cortege was a long one, being attended by crowds of old friends who allowed nothing to stand in the way to prevent their paying that last tribute of respect to the memory of one they had long known, and which is the last honor we can confer and the last duty we can undertake for the dead. The President of the shire (Cr. J. B. Coombs. J.P,) and Concillors McKinnon, Cookson, P. Dunn, Hayes, J. Dunn, O'Callaghan. Wylie, and many ex-presidents and ex-councilors joined the mournful procession. The Rev. T. B. Swift read the beautiful burial service adopted by the Presbyterian church, but it was only by a great physical effort he was able to continue to the end. A profusion of beautiful wreaths and floral tributes were placed on the coffin, several of which were composed of flowers grown at Riversdale: The trying circumstances of the proceedings round the grave affected not only the reverend gentleman but every one of the large crowd gathered round, and a more painful ceremony has not been witnessed in this district. The heart-rending cries of the children so suddenly bereft of a dear and loving father were pitiable to hear, and although every effort was made by kind friends to assuage their grief it was unavailing. So intense were the cries of the daughters that at times the minister's voice could not be heard, and sadder funerals not even the most callous and unsympathetic could desire to witness. That deep sympathy will be tendered to those whom the deceased has left behind to mourn his loss goes without saying. They had friends willing to do anything in their power for them all round the grave. Good Samaritans were those. A noble act was performed by Mrs. Nicholson, wife of a dismissed railway employee, residing with her husband in one of the portable house at Cathkin station. This kind lady, assisted her husband, gave the daughters of deceased comfort, shelter and food during the trying period from the time they landed at Cathkin station the starting of the funeral, and no better or more praiseworthy efforts could have been performed than were done by this lady, whose work, having seen, we shall not readily forget Sergeant Irvine also deserves a word of praise for his attention and kindness; and also do Messrs. A. Hermistou, F. Wheeler G. A. Cookson and others for their kind attention in many directions. Mr. Thomas Carison conducted the funeral arrangements in his usual satisfactory manner