Suicide Through-Poverty

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 29, 23 August 1890, Page 4

Suicide Through-Poverty

James Gregg, 'a batmaker, who has -carried on business for many year* in Little ißourke_ street Melbouiu was found dead in oue of the upstairs rooms of hid factory last Fiiday. He had a large gun shot wound in his left breast; 1 and a double-barrelled gun, which- bore 'traces of haying been dis- * charged, was lying by his side in such a position ,as showed clearly he had ' committed suicide.' The deceased was rfifty-four 5 years of age and recently -lost his wife, to whom he was much -devoted. Business affairs also had ; not flourished with him recently, and ' though he was depressed in spirits ~no suspicions were aroused that he would ' take his own life. He was 'Hast seen 5 aliTe about fire j o'clock on Thursday by the employes as they, ieff {after finishing their day's •^work. appears to have gone .to the room in which he was - found, and which he used as a private <- office. From somecuts, on his arms and Z. hands, it is supposed that he first at- -. teinptecTsuicide by opening one of his -'veins, but .finding this, method too .slow he took the gun, faaened o: c -end of a piece of rope, to.thejtrigge , and tied the other end to the side of a machine in the room. ,By holding the muzzle to his heart and giving - the weapon a slight pull he succeeded in discharging it, and the wound apparently-, proved immediately fatal. A note was/iound on the table beside him, and read: — "I cannot live to have my- children- asking for bread ■and not L have the means to get it." He leaves a family bf nine' children.