MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 207, 3 September 1869, Page 2

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.

. ...Great excitement was created in town by a rumor which got abroad at an early hour this morning to the effect that Dr. Combe, a barr ister-at- law, who, some fourteen months ago, came down here to join the late Mr. Poynter in business, had committed suicide during the night by cutting his throat. The circumstances attending the fatal act so far as we have been able to ascertain, are as follows : — About six o'clock yesterday evening the housekeeper, who was going out to a friend's, left the deceased writing a letter, to Mr Prendergast as he told her, and on her returning at about 9 o'clock Dr Combe called out from his bedroom, " Ob, is that you ? lam gone to bed;" This morning the housekeeper, as was her custom, knocked at his door at between half-past six and seven o'clock, and receiving no answer, she asked the milkman, who had just arrived, to go in and rouse her master. Ou entering the room, a ghastly sight met his view, the deceased was lying in bed, with the clothes swept off as if by a wave of the hand, his head, which was lying back against the head-board, was nearly severed from the body by a frightful gash, evidently inflicted by a razor which was lying on the unfortunate man's thigh ; the walls, floor and bedclothes being covered with the blood which had poured from the fearful wound. The alarm was at once given and the police sent for, but on a search being made amongst the deceased's papers, which were all neatly tied up in readiness for moving, as he was about to leave Nelson shortly, nothing could be found to give any clue to tbe motives which prompted the fatal deed. Eor some time past it had been noticed by several of his friends that Dr. Combe was in a melancholy and desponding state, which he attributed to the fact of his having been disappointed in the business upon which he had enteied in this town, which, he fully expected, would have proved more remunerative. There was nothing however in his manner to lead lo the supposition that he contemplated the terrible deed which has cast such a gloom over our community. An inquest is to be held at the Commercial Hotel, this afternoon, at four o'clock, when possibly more particulars may be brought to light.