The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, NOV. 21, 1895. MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 122, 21 November 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, NOV. 21, 1895. MURDER AND SUICIDE.

The number of murders, suicides, and sudden deaths which have taken place in these colonies within the last few weeks is appalling. In too many cases the main contributing causes would appear to be traceable to financial troubles in some shape or form, inducing mental worry and despair. Absolute physical pain from disease has, in a few instances, induced persons to terminate their existence by violent means it is true, but these may be looked upon as very exceptional cases. The telegraph has many good uses, but it is a moot point among medical men who have studied the subject, as to whether the publication of the depressing details of these crimes does not actually encourage their imitation by weak or neurotic subjects. To the healthy and strong the perusal of accounts of murders and suicides inwhich the most minute details are given with painful accuracy, may — and often does — afford a sort of pleasurable excitement; but to others who are not similarly constituted, and have homicidai or suicidal tendencies, such details can only excite their morbid fancies to such a degree that they are tempted to \ follow the example of the other unfortunates who have given way and destroyed their families and themselves. Iv the old Roman days it was held to be an honorable act to commit suicide, and in the Old Testament cases are recorded where no disgrace was attached ;o self- murder. Shakespeare's Othello, wbo committed murder and suicide, was held to be " great of heart." But a change lias come over public opinion on the subject, and the English law has made suicide a crime against the State a* well as against the individual. We need uot describe the disgusting mode of treating the body of a suicide ; that was only in accord with the rndeness of the age and the severe penal code which existed at the beginning of the present century. However, it is certain that the number of suicides under that regime was in no ways diminished by the fear of after consequences, either in this world or in the next. Now-a-days, owing to tbe struggle for existence and the rapid rate at which people live as compared with the generation of fifty years ago, in proportion to the mental activity or excitement among men of the present day, there is necessarily a proportionate depression when the inevitable reaction conics — hence despair, which is the door that opens the way for insanity to enter. This only explains in part the cause, but it is sufficient for our purpose. How to find a preventing cause, or a remedy, remains yet to be discovered, but we sincerely believe that if men and women exhibited more kiudly sympathy for each other and less of that terrible spirit of the •' emulation of greed," which is so potent an clement iv life at the present day, they would not only be happier in themselves, but would bring joy to the suffering, the poor, the unfortunate, and unwittingly turn tbe melancholy thoughts of the latter to the brighter surroundings thus afforded them. A kindly act or judicious word of sympathy has been the turning point of many a man on to tho jroad which leads to everlasting life, from the path that led to a suicide's grave.