HIS OWN CORONER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 37, 3 February 1908, Page 4

HIS OWN CORONER.

/SUUDE BEQUEATHS VERDICT. IMIILUSOITUCAJj LETTER. 1 Sydney, January 22. An extraordinary letter was left by Captain Vos, a retired master mariner, who took an overdose of lautUyium the other day, iji liis liuuse near Milson s i'oint. This document, which reads like a piece o£ l'agan philosophy from ancient Koine, ran as follows: " What makes people fear death';— Religion, and tear 01 the unknown. Why do I not l'ear death!— Because 1 know that everyone lias to die sooner or later, and, if iliey can stand it, so can 1. Have 1 ever been face to face with death 'i — les, several times. Had 1 any fear ol wise. No, 1 have nothing to fear of —llonerstly spoaking, 110. 1 believe death is the end ot all men. .Now, suppose tlicie is an hereafter. Well, 110 matter what it's like, I'll have to gut accus-

turned to whatever it is, as many others have had to do; and surely 1 call do likewise. Mo, 1 have absolutely 110 fear of it. Do 1 regret leaving this world';— .No, not very much. 1 have had too

' many lips and down.- in it; too many worries ami si niggles to suit my temperament. I have suffered a great deal of hardship ami physical pain through ■ my operation, and the balance id too ' much ill favour of the downs. How do • 1 expect relief from death?— Eternal ' sleep, or, in other words, unconsciousness—oblivion. \v hat do my last 1 thoughts dwell upon most ?—-My four children lying asleep upstairs. Well, l hey have an easier time than I have hail. I hope and trust so. Do 1 believe in a Supreme Being?—.No, but 1 don't deny the existence of one. .My reason forbids me to believe in such a being as depicted to us, because 1 see so much misery and pain around me which such a being could easily obviate. Do 1 believe in spirits?—Ves, in bottles, and then only in the medicinal properties in theni. i have chosen midnight as the hour to put myself to rest. Why ? Because 1 want tu feel that I am already sleepy, to assit the opiate in its rapid effect.. When 1 take it, I shall compose myself exactly the name as on ordinary occasions when very tired out. 1 look lat niy w'ateli. It's only 11.iU p.m. Another forty minutes to wait. Ilow long the time seems ill passing! I feel anxious to go to sleep. .Why did I choose this method?— Because it seems to liie the easiest and most natural. Is there iinytliing insane about me? —No, 1 don't think so, only that I am thoroughly sick of it all. Does it worry me what becomes of my body?—Xo, not in the least. Hurv it., jiut it overboard at sea. It's all one to nie. The only thing that troubles me in the least is that 1 may not be really dead; but this I have provided for, as far as possible, by requesting the coroner to let a medical mail make certain of my death. I nave taken many risks in my lifetime, ami one more or less won t make much difference. 11..'i1l p.m.: .Soon it will be time, thank goodness, to make a start lor bed, sleep, and res!; and, as someone has said beiwre, 1 can't recall hi* name, "Sow for the grand secret.'' 1 am going to have a look at my children again, so goodnight to all whom I leave behind. Blessings, if such things exist, on some; curses others, whom I need not mention,—.Joseph Vos, January 8, 11)08." \ os left a letter directing the Coroner what his verdict should be. It was as follows:

■January 8, IUOB. Mr. Coroner. Deal' Kir—Seated comfortably anil quite easy in mind—Time, 4,15 p.m. My only object iit penning these few lines is to save your young men and yourself valuable time, ami also tlie risk of bringing ui » verdict as to the cause of deatli, wluch might be an erroneous one, as is ft Hen the case. The verdict should be: \\ e litii] that tlie deceased, Captain .Joseph \os, eanie by liis death by means of an overdone of laudanum, self-ad-ministered. *l hr laudanum was taken »u account of domestic and financial troubles, oi which he has had more than a lair share during the past few months. There is no evidence to show that tlie deceased was insane, nor was any evidence adduced to show jvhen or where the laudanum was obtained.— Yours faithfully, Joseph Vos.