SUICIDE OR HOAX?

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2, 2 January 1903, Page 4

SUICIDE OR HOAX?

REMARKABLE EFFUSION ON A

WHITE-SHIRT

"GOOD-BYE, DOGS, FLIES, SNAKES, JACKASSES AND FLEAS."

PEETH, December 24.

Information was received at Gin Gin that a man had drowned himself in a large pool at Long Bridge Gully, 3tf miles away. ; A mounted cbnsta-ble, accompanied by :a native 0 assistant, left Gin Gin, and arrived at Kelly's homestead in the afternoon. >g

The following letter, written on the front and back of what was once a white, s-tarched shirt, was handed, to the constable:—"l Bendigo Paul, of Victoria, aged 28, am tired of life and,have decided to take -my own life. I am going to hang a stone around my neck and jump into this hole of water. These clothes I wish to be sent to a mission."

On the other side there was an effusion headed "A Tramp's Farewell," as follows:—"Good-bye, land of flies and rotten scabs and native dogs, land of fleas and kangaroos, bally snakes and jackasses, fleas and ticks, and bully ants; I am leaving you my pants, also shirt, and a few more rags, billycan and ration ,bags. Once more, farewell, you hungry tramps, no more will I ever see your camps on the lonely road or its green lanes nor on the hills, or on the plains. Farewell, once more, to yon all. And this is the end of Bendigo Paul."

The pool, which was very deep and full of snags, was dragged without success. In some quarters the affair is regarded as a hoax.