LOCAL HOTEL SENSATION

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1311, 14 December 1911, Page 4

LOCAL HOTEL SENSATION

AFFAIR IX A BATHROOM. A sensation was caused in a loading mid-city hotel in Wnllinglon yesterday when it was discovered that n visitor U> Wellington had attempted to commit suicide whilst in the bath between 10.1)0 a.m. and noon yesterday.

It is reported that the man, who-e name is Mr. A. T. Bellerby, a sheepfanner, from Wairon, Jlawke's H.iy, came to the hotel for the iir-st timo without any luggage or Sunday evening last, and •tool; a room for tho night. On Monday he left the premises, and did not return until 1 o'clock on Tuesday morning. Me thi'ii retired to bed, and' remain™ there until about ]()..'IO a.m. yesterday, when ho proceeded to the batiuuom. '110 had been there some time, ivjien one of (ho maids gave him a call. To this he replied: "I'm all right, in here—tin- water is nice and warm—l'll .stay for another quarter cf an lour."

. Just before noon ,1 Hie maid became anxious, as the bathroom was still locked nnd the man within. A knock elicited no response, so sho assisted the messenger to look through the fanlight. Tho boy saw the wan in tlie bath, and evidence of an attempt to take his life, lie gave the alarm at once, the door was opened, and the man was lifted from the bath bleeding from a wound in tho neck. A razor was found in the bath.

Dr. Gilmer was summoned, and after attending to the wound ordered the man's removal to tho hospital. Tho man, who is likely to recover, made a statement to 'he police to tlie. effect that he, was in financial difficulties, nnd his wife was ,ill in a private hospital. He had been drinking heavily siiiee he had been in AYellington.