A PATHETIC LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1521, 17 August 1912, Page 6

A PATHETIC LETTER.

a (By TeUffraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, August 16. ['This is to say that my dear husband is in no way to blaino for this. _ I have not been sleeping Well, and it is more than I can bear. lam afraid to goto bed again, as it is agony. My dear, loving little girls I havo never been able either to love, you or your father bb you deserved to bo loved. It is not in my naturo lo do so. lam utterly selfish, and much better out of the way.—Susio Atkinson." This was the letter that Mrs. Atkinson left before committing suicide at her homo in Khyber Pass on Thursday afternoon. The inquest was held this morning, before the coroner (Mr. T. Gresham) and a jury of six. TJio husband of deceased, Jabcs.Atkinson, stated that she had boon attended for influenza about a week ago. About eighteen mouths ago sho had attempted suicide. She wns convicted on that pecasion by the Magistrate, and sho promised never to repeat 'the net. They had two children, girls aged and 5 years respectively. They had all conio front England about eighteen months ago. The coroner pointed out to the jmy that there was no evidence of insanity. "At tho same time," he said, "any medical practitioner will tell you that influenza frequently induces an/unbalanced mind. There is no doubt that tho wound was self-inflicted, the only question for youto decide is whether she was responsible for the act."

A verdict of "suicide while temporarily insane," was returned.