LOVE AND SUICIDE.

Kumara Times, Issue 1655, 18 January 1882, Page 2

LOVE AND SUICIDE.

A most determined attempt to commit suicide was made at the St. Peter's Church of England Parsonage, Easterrihill, oil Sunday afternoon, by Mr Frank Harding, M.A., a curate of the church; who was latterly engaged as master of a hading grammar school in Hobartj Tasmania. It appears that Mr Harding, who is only 22 years old, recently returned from Tasmania for the ostensible purpose of spending the Christmas holidays, bat really to renew his addresses to a young lady with whom he had been on terms of close friendship when acting as curate at St. Peter's Church. His attentions were not received in as favorable a manner as he desired, and in donseqitenCe he determined to put an end to his existence. Shortly after dinner on Sunday he took a 6dz. mix cure containing about two drachma of hydrate of chloral, followed by a second dose of the same mixture containing between two and tluee drachms of hydrate of chloral. The poison took immediate effect, and ori the arrival =.f Dr. Teague, who was sent for, the sufferer was found to he in d thoroughly prostrate and paralysed condition. The usual remedies were assiduously applied, but owing to the poison having been taken immediately after a hearty dinner no effect was produced for some hours, and it was not till after powerful antidotes had been administered that the sufferer showed any signs of recovery. By unremitting attention, however, Dr Teague, succeeded in counteracting the effect of the poison, and yesterday morning Mr' Harding was considered to be sufficiently out of danger to be allowed to go about. He seemed to be determined, however, to put an end to his ; life, and plainly told Dr. Teague and his friends that if he were not allowed! to have his own way in the love affair/ nothing would prevent him from carrying out his suicidal purpose. The counsels of-his friends were disregarded, and although it was pointed out to him that the feelings and interests of the lady in question should be primarily consulted in such a matter, he only replied that he would be willing to wait three or four years if such a course was thought necessary, but uuless the lady undertook to marry him at some time more or less remote he would commit suicide. It was at first proposed to call in the police and hand Mr Harding over to them for his own personal safety, but as it was thought that such' a course would endanger his prospects in life, and cause him to lose his appointment in Tasmania, the idea was abandoned. After a while Mr Harding appeared to give up this idea of on being reasoned with, and no further notice was taken of the occurence. During yesterday afternoon, however, he purchased a much larger quantity of hydrate of chloral, and made a second attempt to destroy himself, On the fact being discovered, he was immediately removed to the Melbourne Hospital by the clerk at St, Peter's Church, where he was admitted shortly after 5 o'clock, and treated by Dr. Backhouse, one of the resident surgeons. He was then in a prostrate condition and partially unconscious, and although all the usual remedies were applied he gradually sank, and died at half-past 10 o'clock last night. The Rev. Canon Handfield was in attendance at the hospital during the evening, and administered the rites of the church to the sufferer. An inquest will be held.-* Melbourne Argus, Jan. 3*.