MELANCHOLY SUICIDE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 5041, 1 May 1879, Page 2

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

At about two o’clock on Monday afternoon a boy named William Robb informed Constable Norgate, whom he met in the street, that the body of a man was lying in the Avon. On proceeding to the spot indicated, about lour chains below the Madras street bridge, the constable saw the body lying at the bottom of the river in about five feet of water. He at once obtained assistance and cot the body out of the river. From papers found on deceased it was ascertained that he, was a young man named Bush, who had been in Christchurch for some time. In the pockets of his clothes were found two tobacco pouches, a pipe, two studs, a pocket-knife, a key, one penny, one die, and sundry papers. Among the documents was a letter addressed to “ F. W. Bush, Esq., Old Square, Lincoln’s Inn, London,” and running as follows :

Christchurch, April 21, 1870, My Dear Father, —I received y-jiir letter by the lat-t mail a few days ago, and was grieved to find that you refused to afford me any assistance. I now tell you that my last penny is gone, and I am in debt to the amount of a few pounds. Before tins letter speeds on its way, I hope to he in a pKcp. where no money is required, and you will be rid of one that you liked in days gone by to call son. ft is not for myself, but my wife and chit, ll.at I implore assistance fiom you. I hope you will ihink kindly of me, and believe me to bo your affectionate son,

Frank W. Bush. Please give my kind love to all at homo. The whereabouts of the wife and child are at present unknown, but the police will make every effort to discover where they reside. It appears that Bush had been living North for some time, where he was working in a stare for Mr Cameron, at Saltwater Creek. Previous to that he had been working for Mr Simpson, tobacconist, of Colombo street. He came from Amberley shortly before the races, and then had in his possession L 9, all of which and more he lost. It appears, however, from the opinions of thos3 best acquainted with him that Bush was n«v- considered'a likely mao to commit suicide, although the letter found on the'body sce.ns to point conclusively' to his having taken his ,rwn life. At the inquest Mary Ja.no Hiughto\ deposed: “I live in Christchurch. I knew deceased. We have, b--n keeping company closo upon two ycais. Tie as a s'ugio mull. I was to be hm wife. H Worn, av-ay the-week alter Christinas, it -, was to have gone to Dunedin, but I sup. pose bis money would ?ot take him. He has

been in Christchurch for the last month or six weeks, I should think. I haw seen him only once since! he came back., He went to Ashburton, and then to Amberley,_whence he came 7 back to Christchurch. He tola me he had not been very well all the time he had' been away. .The last time I saw him was last Saturday week. He was then very low-spirited. I suppose her was disappointed at not receiving the money from Some which he was expecting. I aid not expect that he would destroy himself. Deceased was some time ago in business here as a general dealer, being in partnership with his brother, who has since gone to England. His father is a barrister in London. ‘Globe.’ .