TIRED OF LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 240, 11 October 1888, Page 5

TIRED OF LIFE.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT HELENS-

VILLE.

THE CLERK OF THE COURT SHOOTS

HIMSELF,

Helensville was thrown into a state of excitement yesterday afternoon by the circulation of a roport, which proved to be only too true, to the effect that Mr George Herbert Ludlow, the well-known clerk of the local Police Court, had attempted suicide, »nd was in a very precarious condition. Constable Foreman, who is stationed at Helensville, was in town yesterday morning, and he returned to his sphere of duty by the midday train. Shortly after his arrival at Helensville he was hurriedly interviewed by ;Mr J. S. Clendoii, K;M., who expressed fears that Mr Ludlow had by this time carried out a determined threat to take away bis life.. Ab the eanietime.MrClondon- handed' to the constable a half-sheet of übtopaper,; which he bad found enclosed in a' note addr.eseed to himself, and left lying on the court-house table. The riote ivas written in a good firm hand, with ink-pencil, and ran as follows :— " I am in a muddle, and nearly crazy with anxiety, so I am just off towards Ruatawhera to shoot myself. Break it to my v if e ._G.H. L. lp.ru., Wednesday." Constable Foreman at once saddled a horse, and rode as fast as possible in tho direction of the place stated in the note, which is eibuated a short distance from Helensville. When close to the township the constable foufid Mr Ludlow lying on the roadway. He was covered with blood, wiri held a "single-barrelled Coh's revolver in' his right hand. Constable Foreman staked the man what bY had done, and be implied, '* I have shot myself." Constable Eoreman then examined him, - and discovered a bullet wound on the left »ide<?f Sjis chest, the bullet having. entered near the nipple, breaking one of the jibs, and. finally lodging underneath tho shoulder blade. The constable left Mr Ludlow in the care of some men who wero near at hand, and he then iode b^ck to Helensville to procure a stretcher. On; $he constable's return to Ruatawhera a large number ol people had assembled, and Mr Ludlow, having been placed on the stretcher, was promptly conveyed into Helensville. There being no medical man immediately available, the wounds of tha would-be suicide were dressed as well as amateur surgery would permit, and then he was brought on to Newmarket by the four o'clock train. Constable Foreman and Mr Clendon accompanied Mr Ludlow, and on their arrival at Newmarket they were met by a vehicle, despatched by the Auckland po.ice authorities. Mr Ludlow was conveyed to the Auckland Hospital and bia injuries were attended to by Dr. vßbnd. Dr. Bond gave it as his opinion •that Mr Ludlow's-injuries were dangerous, and he at once proceeded to perform an operation: ■ The ball which' had lodged, iv the back, near the shoulder blade, was successfully removed while the" patient was under chloroform, and he was Jtheh considered to be still in a somewhat precarious condition. On making inquiry through the Hospital telephone this afternoon we learned that Mr Lttdlow was doing as well as could be expected, but no definite opinion could be expressed by the doctors aa to the probability or otherwise of bU recovery. Mr Ludlow has so far vouchsafed no explanation as to the cause "of the rash act beyond that- given in the note written to' Mr Ciendon.- .. fc. was 2.45' p.m. when he was :-.fanal; by Constable Foreman, and iV-"inuat ba"v<> been immediately prior to ' fcbat time that he attempted his life,' because to&' Subsequently said'-tcrthe coh-atabtei'Aii-Hiii. y?u coming and then snpb BiySeif.-' ': jaid&fr was questipneq as ,■ -to Why he did so, but declined <to give any *fettlv He has been Clerk of the Court at HeVensVille for theiasb thre'6 years,, but had little to, keen bis time employed, and was supposed, to jiive been very hard-up. Ho as a- married: :man, biit has no family, and tthecau'se .of'his anxiety to quit this world smd the existing depression is presumed-to hstwe been-financial difficulties. : <• ''•• 'A