THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT BRUNNERTON.

Inangahua Times, Volume III, Issue 63, 12 January 1877, Page 2

THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT BRUNNERTON.

At the Court-house. Cobden, yesterday morning, before Mr Greenwood arid E, Mas'ers. Rsqrs., Justices, Thomas Heslin was brought up on remand, ch-irged with having on tip gnd January, unlawfully taken a certain quantify of laudanum, with intent to kill and destroy li'mself. The following evidence was taken :— W. H. Harrison Am editor of the Grey Rirer Argus newspaper. At about half- past fire pn fhe afternoon of the 2 id ifisiant I recpiredrihe letter produced — (letter banded in)— and read as follows :— " Ist Ja^uarj', 1877. " T. Heslin, Brunnerton, ia his usual composed and proper senses, wsnts to let the populnce know the cause of bis hatred to the world. " In the fi^t place, my adhesion to this world should be strengthened Tenfold on account of my Fuu.ijy, which everybody who knows them, pronounces beyoud the common. '. < " Secondly,— l must Justfy toy wife so ' far as to Bay iv my last Testament, she has been strictly honest with me uuiil after she was a Grandmother. " B.er deviation fr<m the right path liaa b«en caused b/ a» oil; eaake, m tli« shape i

of a man— Joseph Carter — who works cow at the Kumara. He persists in his addresses, although he knows it has caused Family disturbance for some time. " Now, I am going to commit suicide. The very name is abhorrent to me; end the thoughts of leaving my children ; O ! I cannot commit this to paper. " I hope there is not a man who will call me a fool or coward f r committing such an act ; for a fool, those who knows me will decide ; and, for a coward, the aci I am about to commit is a stranger to the name. •• This paper is written for publication in the Grey Hirer Arjyis, and I hope the finder will send it ther^e, as I know it will get Justice to the letter. " Adieu to earth, adieu to mirth, adieu yoa fields where I used to run ; Three tinsel adieu, I say to jou, my life, my soul, Maggie Robertson. "Thos. Heun, " Brunnerton." In reply to the usual question, accused said that he did not recollect leaving the town, and a number of witnesses having been examined, tbe prisoner was discharged. In a subsequent issue of the paper the accu3ed writes — " what I said concerning ray wife. I declare to the public it was altogether false, and that I was in delirium tremens at the time I wrote it.