THE LITERATURE OF SUICIDE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1615, 8 October 1873, Page 4

THE LITERATURE OF SUICIDE.

Two extraordinary suicide^ ',',,,: under widely different circumstances, have recently occurred in the Colonies. In the case, of R. W. Wardill, the unfortunate man confessed his crime of embezzlement and his suicidal intention in the'following letter : — "The extent of my defalcations is L7OO(X This has been going on several years, and the last balance-sheet shows in letters .of credit account ot the above amount deficient. All the other balances are correct in every particular. This I solemnly declare, and I wish to confess everything, and assist you to check my statement. It is the old story of taking money in order to make a good venture, and '- then return the original thefts. I have taken cheques'foelonging to the; company, and paid them in to, my private, account, and then entered in the ,ca3hbppk the amount to the credit t of the ■various' firms, and debited the letters' of credit account! I have been a frightful scoutidrel, : but have suffered dreadfully daring the : last two years, aqd I feel better now 1 have told you all. . The. exact amount is L7OOO to a penny. : , The L2OO debited G. and G. was to" make the amount of my embezzlements L7OOO, as youx will see by the cash-book for June.; You. need, .not fear that 1 shall ..try and abscond. I could ( have done so, on Satur-. day .if . j ; wanted jo do,, but .l .had determined' to drdwri myself ' 'to-night, but when I went home to dinner the sight of ' my; ;wife ; and ..child sent me to my bedroom", and, I prayed to , Gpd , the first time for years, and I now come to give myself up to yoaaudthe directors. ,God.knows I would do anything in the way of restitution if I had it, but my furniture is all I have, which the company will get. It is a dreadful crime that I have committed and I would' undergo anything if only my innocent relatives would not suffer. While I am writing this, I think it better that 1 should make away with myself, but if -I do I have been taught that I shall pc consigned to everlasting punishment, and I' dsre"nbt:— R. W. Wardill." He did dare, however, j for he afterwards scribbled in pencil "I have gone to the Yarra; it is best for all," and, rushing from the presence of his wife, he went, and was next seen a corpse. An .equally melancholy case occurred in .'Auckland. Mr James Oldham, wine and spirit, merchant, died. His creditors met," atid' found that the liabilities were L 433 93 sd; assets, L 687 19s 13 d, thus showing a balance in favor of the estate of L 254 10s 6d. At this juncture Mr Isaiacs 1 produced arid read the following letter addressed to himself, and which had! been' found in the pockets of deceased after death. It appeared to have been written ,on ,the day preceding his death*? and ran as follows:— "My Dear SirHad you any idea of the ; mental torture I haye^ suffered for the last two months, you would not be surprised, at my seeking relief from the consuming fire within me, iv consequence of the position I stand in towards my creditors. I know 1 1 did; the wrorigy but were they to know all, I do think they could find it in their hearts to pity tae.' ; About eighteen' months ago I foundTnyself unable "to pay my debts in full. I intended, to put; my affairs into their hands, but was induced by every prospect of success to erect a machine .for,, grinding tailings at Coromandel, which cost about L7OO. -1. -considered I wai' only borrpwing when, by false means, I increased my'debts.* Foif a'- while everything led me to hope all would be cleared off? in ,a. few months. „.I was then laid, up,, and jrixen . I .was able to walk, I f pu n d the concern 3 was riot paying 'its' expenses, through' ; the poornessof the'stuflv I -then 1 lost heart and strength, and rather than face my creditors, I appeal to a mercifullGba, 'whd 'alone' can ivjuflg^ of the in-tentions-of the heart, and-will,~ Itrust,give me relief from, .the <■ misery I now endure. My son will give you all books andipapers, and if you, with Mr B. Tpnks, will undertake. i.to /collect ! and divideitne assets to the best advantage, I would feel Yeisr grateful; I give them' all. I have, to^etfier ; 'with ' my' life, which f is ; the only sadrifice Lean' make. Arid now,^ wishing yoli" and yours /every happiness, : I remain^ my dear sir, "your obedient servant, James Oldham. f P.S.— I scarcely know what lam writing, so pray excuse." . ?