Sensational Attempt at Suicide.

Manawatu Herald, 31 January 1895, Page 3

Sensational Attempt at Suicide.

A COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER TRIES TO POISON HIMSELF. Monday's Wanganui Herald says ihe talk of the town on Saturday night and tbroughout yesterday was the attempted suicide of a commercial traveller named Louis Elerig, representing the Christchurch firm of Bkelton, Frostick and Co., and throughout both Islands. It appears that Elerig arrived in Wanganui during the latter part of the week on one of his usual business trips and put up at the Rutland Hotel, where he always stays. Those intimately associated with Elerig noticed that he seemed somewhat depressed in spirits and attempted to rally him, the result being that in the afternoon he went out for a walk in company with a friend, and afterwards a game of billiards was indulged in. Up to the dinner-hour— six o'clock —he appeared alright, but he must have uttered some threat that he intended to take his life, .for shortly afterwards he went up to his room and about a quarter of an hour having elapsed, one of the domestics employed in the hotel, evidently suspicious that something was amiss, entered the bedroom and found Elerig lying on the bed wifch an almost empty bottle of chlorodyne close to him. He was conscious enough to tell her what he had done and bade her "Good-bye." Host McCarthy was immediately sum. moned — this was just before seven o'clock— and very promptly Sergeant Cullen was communicated with by telephone, and he quickly sent Constable Pennefather, followed by Dr Tripe. It was at once evident that the ""case was a serious one, and while the ordinary remedial measures were taken Dr Innes was sent for, and Sergeant Cullen went for him, as the patient was evidently in a very serious state. The two medical gentlemen were unremitting in their attentions, valuable aid being also given by Sergeant Yillars, Constable Nixon, and Mr McCarthy, the latter being particularly attentive, and at last, mainly by the aid of the galvanic battery, Elerig was restored to consciousness, but for some time he had to be walked up and down one of the passages to keep him from relapsing into a state of ooma. The patient was attended with the greatest oare, and at about five o'olock in the morning he was removed to the Hospital, and throughout yesterday and again to-day he was reported to be * progressing as satisfaotorily as conld be expected. Elerig is a married man with a targe family — most of the members of which are grown up and reside at Ohristchurch. He is about 50 years of age, and is one of the oldest and moat popnlar commercial travellers on the road, and no valid cause can at present be assigned for attempting snoh a rash act on his life. Louis Elerig, the commercial traveller, who attempted suioide by drinking a bottle of chlorodyne, has been committed for trial at next sitting of the District Court on March 4, bail being allowed subject to a doctor's certificate.