THE DOMAIN SUICIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 255, 25 October 1907, Page 5

THE DOMAIN SUICIDE.

LETTER TO THE WIDOW. A HEARTRENDING CASE. The case of suicide in the Domain, which was reported in our issue of yesterday, appears to be surrounded with extremely pathetic circumstances. The deceased was Mr Norman Keir, aged 30 years, who, until recently, had conducted a general carrying business in conjunction with Mr Thomas PoynterV fender the name of N. K.eir and Company. The telephone message sent by the boys who discovered the body, at once brought nonstable Donovan, of Parnell, to the spot. He found the man dead, holding in his right hand a six-chambered revolver, loaded with five cartridges; while a sixth had been recently discharged. A leather bag lying near the body also contained a case with a number of cartridges. A bullet wound -was found in the forehead, blood flowing freely from it. The body was at once removed to the morgue. The police, prior to the receipt of the news of the actual suicide, received the following letter from Mrs Douglas, of Clovelly, Lower Symonds-street, where deceased had been residing with his wife and child:— Dear Mrs. Douglas,—" havte rather an unpleasant duty for you to perform, ana trust you will carry It out—this most unpleasant wish of mine—in the most kindly way Business worries have necessitated my tailing a very extreme course, and I wish you to inform my dear wife that I have met with an accident. Put it to her In the mancer yon think nt—break It to her gently. Poor girl! She has had exceptional wrfrry of late, and this last business will not tend to Improve matters for her. God knows that she has been a good wife to mc, but I regret to say I have not reciprocated her many kindnesses and deep love for mc. Yourself and Mr. Douglas have been parents Indeed to us, and grandparents to our dear child, "Stancey." Kindly break the news as gently as possible, and give them my kind wishes; I will not say love—as, on my part. It Is not worthy of the name of love. Thank the various ladles and gentlemen in the nonse for their many kindnesses to my wife and myself, and especially towards our dear little daughter "Stancy." I cannot possibly express my feelings as I should wish to. My body will be found in the Domain. Good-bye, dear friends, go6d-bye. It Is a pity that this rash act should take place, but there is notliinj lor It. Thus is the way of cowards. I wish still to remain, yours, ver/ truly, NORMAN KEIK. P.S.—I have not the heart to write to my wife, and, perhaps, it Is Just as well. —N.K. Inquiries were at once instituted, but an hour had scarcely passed before information of the tragedy came to hand.