DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1853, 14 February 1889, Page 4

DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Napiee, Feb. 11. An old man, about sixty years of age, named Theodore M'Dona Kennedy, who for some time had been keeping a bookstall at the Napier Railway Station, committed suicide either at an early hour this morning or late last evening. He had been staying at the Terminus Hotel, and was seen alive in the hotel at half-past ten o'clock last night. He did not appear this morning, and at noon the servants went to his room to see if anything was the matter. On entering the bedroom they discovered him lying on the bed covered with blood, with a revolver in his hand. He was quite dead i The police were immediately communicated with. The bullet from the revolver entered the temple, coming out at the other side of the man's head. The wall was spattered with blood. On a chair by the bedside was found a letter addressed to Mr Roulston. It ran as follows: — " Dear Mr Eoulston, —By the time you read this I will have passed to another planet. The laudanum and strychnine having failed the three times I got suddenly ill lately, I shall now see what a revolver will do for me. James Ross kindly lent it me, as I wanted to shoot my dog. Many will say it is a terrible act to take your life. I consider it more honorable than going through the Bankruptcy Court, and my debts are nearly £lO, without the means t& pay them at the present time. Anyway, it is the first time in my life I have been unable to pay my debts, and I am sure it will be the last. Not being a member of any benefit society, and having no means to consult a doctor, I had to seek by gin, the last few months, relief from my suffering from the ailments lam affected with. I can stand it no longer. All who hold that there is a hell and a heaven will say I am gone to that hot region ruled by his sable majesty. P.S.—Napier not being advanced enough to have cremation, I expect I will have to be placed in a wooden suit. Tou will please take possession of my effects to meet the costs of the case. Hoping speedy recovery, and that you will be spared to watch over your family. My watch will be found under my pillow on my bed. I would ask one more request, that my little dog be buried with me; a bottle in the old portmanteau contains strychnine that would poison him. Please see that Mr Eoss gets his revolver. I will not start on my journey before daybreak, so as not to disturb anybody with the report of the pistol. There will be time during the day for the Coroner to go through the farce of an inquest. The keys of the bookstall are left in the box. Ido not dread to meet the Euler of the World, as I never willingly injured mortal. Farewell.— T. M'D. Keotedt."— Lyttelton Times.