A REEFTON TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1917, Page 2

A REEFTON TRAGEDY.

MAN HASBS HIMSELF

REEFTON, Oct. 15,

'The residents of Reefton were shocked on Saturday, when it was found that Louis Libeau was found in h’s cottage, in Victory Street, hanging from a rafter i u a back room quite dead.

The milkman delivered the milk at the cottage on Friday, and left it in a basin, and oil Saturday morning he again called at the cottage and m»s surprised to lind the milk had. not been used °r d.LsfurbJwl. He Killed out “Was anyone home,” and not getting any reply, looked around the room, and o n the table placed on a hook, he found a' piece of paper was written on by the deceased, “I have hanged myself.” He at once went to the Police Station, and told Sergeant Ryan,and he and the Sergeant went to. the cottage, and found Libeau suspended from a rafter, and quite dead.

Sergeant Ryan at once cut the rope,| and removed the body to the morgue. ' Deceased had been in ill health, and suffered from insomnia: although he was seen about every day. He was a regular attendant! at- the Reading Room, and spent a: greet deal of his time reading, he was over GO years of age, unmarried, and the son of the kite Arr Libeau, one of the original settlors at Akaroa.

He had resided on the West Coast over 30 years, lie was of a quiet disposition, a loyal Frenchman, and had a decided aversion against the English or anything English. .