A PARK TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3094, 18 January 1909, Page 5

A PARK TRAGEDY.

A YOUNG MAN'S SAD END. The Park Lake at Masterton was the scene of a tragic occurrence between late on Saturday evening and six o'clock yesterday mornirg. A lad named Wilton was bathing in the lake al about 9.15 yesterday morning, along with a number of other yourig men, when he noticed what looked like the body of a man lying at the bottom of the water, just underneath the .spring board, where the water was about ten feet deep. The police were immediately communicated with. Sergt. Millar and Constable Dunn came to the Lake and brought the body to the surface. To it was tjed round th§ nsck by a short and thick piece of rope, a 14ft bai' of horse-shoe iron. The body was recognised as that of Mr Isaac Robert Leonal'd Carley, a single man, 28, whose mother resides in Renall Street. The deceased had not gone home on Saturday night, and the family had been inquiring for him. 'lhe police/ at once removed the remains to the morgue. From investigations made by the police, it appears that Carley had been about the town during the evening, and shortly after 10 o'clock was in Mr Maltby's cafe. Here he asked for the loan of pen and ink and some I writing paper. He was not seen alive afterwards. Circumstances point to the fact that the deceased had gone to the shop of Mr E. Welch, blacksmith, where he was employed, and there procured the iron which was found tied to his neck. A note, was found in his pocket which, it is presumed, was addressed to the young lady with whom the deceased had been keeping company, as it bore her Christian name. The writer stated he was brokep-hearted, and asked forgiveness for what he was about to do. A spoilt note, intended apparently to have borne the same message, was also found on the deceased. The late Mr Carley was a member of the Sixth Contingent, and was conspicuous for his comradeship and pluok. An ex-trooper and a comrade of the deceased remarked to an Age reporter, "Poor old Bab. He would share his last crust with anyone, and was as brave as a lion." Great sympathy will be felt with Mrs Carley and family in their bereavement. The deceased was well-known in local cricket circles, being a prominent member of the Carlton Club. He was well-known in town and thoroughly liked and respected. He played, in the Carl-ton-Carterton cricket match at the Park on Thursday last. An inquest will be held at the Masterton Courthouse this morning at 10 'oclock.