DETERMINED SUICIDE

Taihape Daily Times, 7 August 1919, Page 5

DETERMINED SUICIDE

MAN CUTS HIS THROAT; THEN DROVVNS H_IM’b‘ELF. At Wellingtofi early on Tuesday morning, a Maltese named Bezzina 30 years of age, made two attenmpts (the second effort proving fatal) on his life_ The deceased,'who is Said t 0 have been an hotel worker, first ondeavoured to ”"cut his throaot with «a ra"or. He inflicted a nasty gash, but the injury was not serious. Then, it HS Dresllmed, he partially undressed ihimself on the Taranaki Street Wharf, lncar where the barque Rona is berthed, and threw himself in the water.

‘ This was about 2.30 a.nl. Mr. J_ B. Raine, the second officer of the Rona, heard a struggling and a splashing in the water, and on investigating the cause discovered-Bezzina. Mr Raine immediately endeavoured to secure the man, but the latter refused to accept the proffered aid, and, calling out. “Don’t save :me,,’’ went under the water. Mr_ Raine called to the nightwatchman on duty and a rope was thrown to Bezzina, who had come to the surface again, but again the man refused to take hold of a rope, and drifted out of sight. An electric torch was then «secured, and search made for the man, but he had disappeared.

On the wharf a coat hat and vest were discovered. In one of the coat pockets a blood-stained razor was found, indicating that«Bez7ina had previously.made an attempt on his life. Information was later on conveyed to the police at the Taranaki Street station, and Sergeant Lopdell, Con-. stable J. Ryan, and Mounted Constable Staniland searched for the man without avail. Subsequently dragging gear_ was obtained, and after some hours the body was recovered There was a gash on the throat (not however," serious enough to cause death), but nothing was found onbthe ‘clothing to

illdi_jcate the reason-fh'e.‘ mlarfé act‘. . V:"ery little is known of the deceased He Ehad not long been in; _Welljl:t'gton,-‘ whére he had endeaVoul'é‘d t.o ”Sécul'é. emp_loyment. He had made inquiries at féome of the labour burcaux, but had" “pbee_n_Hul_lts',l_hlbcNc_essfll_l in obt_aini'ng .3. sit'uati<)'nLH' in V '