I ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN MARTIN STREET.

Manawatu Herald, 19 August 1881, Page 2

I ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN MARTIN STREET.

A SINGULAR CASE. (Evening Post, August 16.) What appears to have been a deliberate attempt to commit suicide occurred in Martin-street, Te Aro, shortly before 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The wouldbe suicide is a young man named James •lansen, and the manner in which he seems to have set about the work of self-destruc-tion renders the case one of the saddest and most extraordinary that could be described. At 20 minutes to 2 o'clock, Constable Gordon was informed by a man named M'Duff, a sign writer, that Jansen, who lived with his mother in Martin-street, had " shot himself," and on the officer proceeding to Mrs Jansen's residence, accompanied by Dr Rawson, the youth was found lying on a bed in a Very weak condition. From the statement volunteered by him. it appears Jansen loaded a toy cannon with a bullet, manufactured by himself, after which he fastened the cannon down to a table by means of a strap, having previously placed a cap on the " touch hole." Placing his left breast to the moutb of the cannon, he lodged the contents of the cannon in hiß body. On a table standing in the room were a hammer and a toy cannon, the latter having burst the strap which held it down. A letter, written in lead pencil on a sheet of note-paper, was also found. It ran as follows : — "14 August, 1881. " Dear Mother— " Before you read the line I will be dead. When I told you I had got work at Hurel's I lied. 1 hoped to learn the trade I hay« started, but now I see some great difficulties, and come to the conclusion that the prize is not worth the struggle. Mother, I know very well that while yon are living I should not want a home, but I will not be dependent on yon for my living any longer. Mother, I may bave seemed proud and heartless, but my heart ib not altogether a stone. Remember me to my m brothers and sisters and tell them I die . V with pleasure. " Your son, "James Jansen." As will be Been, the foregoing was written on Sunday last. On the other side of the paper was written, in the same Btyle of handwriting as the other portion of the letter, the following words : — "15th August, 1881. " Dear Mother — " I intended to shoot myself last night, but, not wishing to troble yon to ran for the docter in the middle of the night, I posponed it till this morning." Jansen, who is about IS years of age and of Danish origin, was at once conveyed to the Hospital, where his wound was attended to by Dr. Gillon, the Resident Surgeon. On enquiry at the Bospital this afternoon, we learn that the bullet has not yet been discovered, and that little, if any, hope is eutertained of his reoovery. He has passed a tolerably fair night under the ciroumstances.