"I'M SORRY"

NZ Truth, Issue 1207, 17 January 1929, Page 6

"I'M SORRY"

♦ A Suicide's Note To Parents SHOT HIMSELF (From "N.Z. Truth's" Melbourne Rep.) Behind a simple announcement m the obituary notices of the Melbourne "Argus" is a story of tragedy which has stricken with bitter sorrow the lives of one of the bestknown families m Australia. A PISTOL shot and a pathetic little message of farewell, "I'm sorry, mother and father," told all that was necessary when the relatives of Vause Bermingham Bowes Kelly found him lying wounded to the point of death. He 'had gone into the sitting-room and was seen there reading. Shortly before noon one of the female domestics heard a sound as of a pistol shot, this being followed immediately by groans which, she found, came from the sitting-room. Alarmed, she called another of the servants, a waiter, who entered the room and .found Vause Bowes Kelly lying m a. large armchair. Blood was flowing freely from a wound m 'his head, and had soaked, his clothing. He was still alive, but was not conscious. One hand gripped an automatic pistol. The young man's parents were informed and medical assistance summoned with all speed, but when Doctors Gamble and McMorran 'arrived nothing could be done and death occurred just before 2 p.m. An examination of the room disclosed that he had written a note and placed it on a side -table. i"I am sorry, mother and father," was all it said. Vause Bowes Kelly was a young man of exceptional physique, and enjoyed t widespread popularity among the younger set of Melbourne society. In July, however, he was concerned m a serious motor accident on Toorak Road. A car he was driving got out' of control, apparently, when moving at high speed, and crashed into a telegraph pole with, such force ;as to snap it off close- to the ground.Since' this accident Vause Bowes Kelly has been at times peculiar.