Suicide eof Louis Chemis.

Manawatu Herald, 25 October 1898, Page 2

Suicide eof Louis Chemis.

Two boys found th^ibpto^jw Loute Chemis on Saturday afternoon at the back of th«? flagstaffon Mootft Victoria. It was the body o£ a nian viwrat r head, and the portion of oyie "jo , missing, but the clothing wa*« sup. sequehtly identified by 'Sn.uinW; The sight was a horrible one, tjbe' head being blown off close to the shoulders, und the right arm severed above »«>e elbow. There was no sign of the head at all in the immediate vicinity; but p^ a search being insUtute4 pieces of the skull were found scattered in all directions, portion being picked up over 150 yards away. A piece of the man's tweed cap was found about 50 yards from the body, as well A^ihe bottle which had contained brandy* and a coil of fuse. Small pieces of flesh, including a piece of the man's chin and one of his ears and several teeth, were found to have been blown in different directions, some minute scraps adhering to the surrounding ti-tree. The remains were placed in the stretcher and taken to Wellington. It appears that deceased had apparently got into a prone position, placed a dynamite cartridge in his mouth, and lit the fuse.* A box of matches was found ' alongside him. Dynamite, as is generally known, has a tendency to strike downwards when <F exploded," so that it is inferred that Chemis must have been, lying on the ground when he took his lite; Beyond sundry small pieces of bone no portion of deceased's hand or arm Were dis« covered. - There were no letters found in the pockets of deceased indicating the reason for committing the act/ Hli only possessions were a two shilling piece," match-box, pocket-knife one or two little nick-nacks.