CONFESSION G A SUICIDE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1927, 24 August 1888, Page 3

CONFESSION G A SUICIDE.

The following statement of a sulolde • life and career was found In the pocket of a young man who shot himself m Sydney about the beginning of July last. The document ii to the following cffaot : - What Is there In life ? Nothing. It 1b a blank, There is nothing m this world to make me happy now. Five years ago 1 was as happy as anyone. Then I took to sea, and went to the Brazils, and whilst there committed a deed which has caused me a life of terror and misery evet since. That hellith curse of mankind— drink — was the cause of it all. Having 1 gocd pay and being m a good position on board ship, with very little work and plenty of time to myself, I used to spend all my money In keeping ud a good s y!c of dress, and, as I had learned a good deal of the Portuguese language, I used to mix rather freely with passengers on board During one of our voyages from Monte Video to the port of Rio I at racked the attention of a beauHfol yonng lady passenger, named Isadora De Alviney. We soon formed an acquaintance, but she being a first class passooger, our meetings were always kept secret. Every nl^ht it was the duty of the stewards to keep watch m the saloon, and then be allowed t > sleep all day. This duty I took, bo that I should be able to talk to the youn^ lady whom I madly loved. When other pasiengers had retired to sleep we would sit on deck and talk love as muoh as my Portuguese would allow me to. Things went on until we reached Santos, the next port to Bio, where the young lady went ashore. I kept up a correspondence with her, and m several of her letters she hinted about marriage, but I only regarded them as jokes* When I had made the next trip, and had once more arrived at Santos, I got an Invitation to go np to the house of her brother, Senor Oale De AMnry, with whom Isadora was staying. Sho looked more beautiful than ever In the evening we both went out for a walk. I told her of my love, proposed, and was acoepted, but ber brother would not hear of such a thing as marriage between us, m oonsequenae of which my betrothed left her brother's house and went to an hotel, whilst I proceeded m my ship to Rio Janiero, where I left. I told everyone that I was going to England, and as they bad no suspicion of me they believed me, but instead of going to England I took the first Bteamer for Santos. On my arrival there I went to the hotel where Isadora was staying, and got married to her. Along with my brld« I received the sum of £6000, her father having died and left £10,000 between her and her brother. After our marriage we went to an island some distance from Santos, called San Sebastian, and bough i a good-sfzad bouse and a Urge ooffee plantation and number of slaves. I began to think 1 was m fairy land; but, alas 1 for me the spell nai bcoken. About three months after our marriage my wife's brother paid us a visit. When he caw how comfortably we were situated he became very friendly to us, and together we used to drink a lot. One day after having drank more wine than we could stand, he went into the house and insulted my wife, I called him outside, and as he made to draw hif knife on me I drew my revolver and shot him. As be fell I rushed into the house and kissed my wife, who was crying like to break her heart. I snatched her photo off the table, and then I ran to the wharf, got a boat to the mainland, and then I changed my name and went to Rio de Janiero, where I hid myself, as I wanted to know what would be done before I left for England. Then I saw m the papers a paragraph to this effect : — " A few days ago, while De Alviney and Santa Olara were amusing themselves, the latter's revolver accidentally went off, the bullet lodging m the thigh of 8. Da Alviney. It is not believed to be a fatal wound. Senor Santa Clara, thinking he had killed his brother-in-law, fled, and it is feared he must have committed suicide, as no trace of him can be found. The affair is causing great excitement m the Island of San Sebastian. " Later.— Senor Oale Da Alviney Is dead. Mortification set m, and he was past medical aid. " Later. — We regret to announce the death of Senora Santa Olara, who died this morning. It is believed she died from grief through her brother's death and the strange disappearance of her husband." Mr brain reels as I write this. I went on board an English ship This took passage to Liverpool via New York. My God, far better bad I drowned myself at onoa. I have never bad a night's rest since. Only m mornings have I been able to rest for a few hours. As aoon as I reached home I was laid up with a terrible excitement, I told my people it was fever and ague. Thinking to drive It out of my mind, I took to sea again and sailed about all over the world. It was no good. Then I came ashore In Australia. Since then I have squandered all my money, and as this thing is killing me I have lost all heart to work, so that It Is far better for me to pat an end to myself at once. The loss of my wife makes me do It. When I think of It It makes me, mad. If I live any longer I should do some desperate act. All this will explain to my friends and relations the, reason, of my strange ways at the time May God forgive me for what I am going to do Behind the photo of my wife m the large frame will be found a lock of her hair Place it with my body. All my things m) relatives can claim, with the exoeptlon ol my vile portrait and my wife's photo anc frame which will go to Mi'hb Bella Stepheni and my banjo and musta to Mrs Rhodes In payment for board. My last wlsl Is may God bless my father, slaters, am brothers, and may they neyer know how I met my death. Justice ylll be served -^a Ufa for a life. Beware of drink evei In small qu»ntll;lej, It oaf raised »• OliUo 3t giitr.