ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 83, 16 July 1910, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

SOLICITOR SHOOTS HIMSELF. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin. Friday. •Donald Larnach, an English solicitor, eldest son of the late Hon. Larnaeh. shot himself with a revolver at the Commercial Hotel, High-street, and was found dead in bed just before one o'clock to-day with a bullet wound in his forehead. He had lived apart from his wife many years. She resiles in England. He leaves two daughters, both married. He had been drinking heavily lately.

SUICIDE. Dunedin, Last 'Night

The discovery of a letter on Donald Larnach. who committed suicide at Wat* son's Hotel this morning shows that the idea of suicide had been in his mind. This letter runs: "I wish my remains to be taken out to sea and dumped overhoard. Failing this, place them in fhe family vault. On no account have pravers read at my burial. I believe in a Creator, but T absolutely disbelieve in the Bible. I want no followers at my funeral." Then follow some verses. Below is written "Good-bye," and then the signature has evidently been cut out. and under the cut are these words, written in lead pencil: "The vault keys are in mv hatbox." On the other side of the sheet on which the letter was written was found a short note in pencil, apparently intended to be sent to his daughter in Oamaru. It read: ''Three sleepless nights. T am going mad. Mv darling girl in Svdney unprotected." (What follows is a private communication to his daughter.) Deceased leave:-, three daughters, two of whom are married.