THE GNAWINGS OF EEMOESE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 139, 6 October 1870, Page 7

THE GNAWINGS OF EEMOESE.

The " Melboune Leader" says : — The suicide of Lebrun de Massin, a Frenchman, at Berlin diggings, is a wonderful example of firmness and determination, scarcely to be accounted for by any supposition, except that the unhappy man's mind was diseased. From entries made in his diary it appeared that he had attempted his life several times by the method often employed by his countrymen — suffocation by the fumes of charcoal — and, failing in this, probably because he was unable in a tent, sufficiently to exclude the air, he deliberately noted down that other means must be uaed. On Thursday morning last he shot himself with a pistol, the muzzle of which he must have pressed close to his side, as a piece of his flannel shirt was blown in his lungs, and this he accomplished a few minutes after failing to hang himself, the rope he used for the purpose not being strong enough to bear his weight, and. having broken in the attempt. But even this does not show to the full extent his determination to carry out his purpose. Near the spot where he was discovered, a razor case was found lying on the ground, with a razor in it, for which it may be inferred that if the bullet had not done its work he would have had recource to the still surer weapon with which he had provided himself. The unfortunate man had been sentenced to death in this colony for the murder of his wife through jealousy, but had been let off with five year' imprisonment, since which time he appears to have led a lonely and miserable life, tortured by a remembrance of his wrongs and his crime, a sufferer from sickness, and unsuccessful in the occupation which he chosen — that of a miner. The coroner read several extracts from a book, which appeared to be a kind of diary the deceased had kept. One entry, dated the 4th of August, and signed i>. de Massin, was to the effect that he had failed with charcoal, and must try other means, as life was a burden. Other entries revealed the sad state of destitution to which he was reduced, and others consisted of denunciations of the police, whom he appeared to think had treated him badly. Inspector Winch and Captain Standis-h. seemed- - especially objects of his aversion.