ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

Evening Post, Volume xc, Issue 79, 1 October 1915, Page 8

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

PETONE MAN SHOOTS HIMSELF. A sensation was caused in Petone yesterday afternoon when it became known that Mr. Frederick Butterworth, a wellknown and respected resident of the town, had attempted to take his life with a revolver. The details of the occurrence are somewhat sad. Butterworth obliged some friends at the Petone Working Men's Club by playing a selection on the piano, but before he had proceeded far he completely broke down, and soon after walked away. On leaving the room to go into the yard he is stated to have said that he " felt like doing away with himßelf," and a. few seconds later the report of a revolver shot was heard. Butterworth, was discovered lying on the ground in a pool of blood, and with, a bullet wound in his right temple. Dr. Ross was summoned, and ordered the '- man's removal to the Wellington Hospital. He was suffering severely from shock and loss of blood, and his condition to-day is reported to be precarious. Some time ago Bntterworth lost hia wife, and it is said that this was preying upon his mind. He had been walking about in a very depressed state of late, and had on several occasions threatened to take his life. A letter found on Butterworth stated that he did not care to live without his wife. Butterworth, who ,is a middle-aged man, was recently employed as a slaughterman at the Gear Company's works. He has one child, a four-year-I old daughter, said to be adopted. This afternoon there was reported to be a slight improvement in the condition of Mr. Butterworth.