A DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Evening Star, Issue 7831, 12 February 1889, Page 4

A DETERMINED SUICIDE.

A PEC Q LIAR CASE. I'SrKOIAL TO THE STAK.] NAPIER, Fkhkuauy 11. An old man about sixty years of age, named Theodore M'Dona Kennedy, who for some time past lias been keeping a stall at the Napier railway station, committed suicido either at an early hour this morning or hue last evening. He had been staying at th/: Terminus. Hotel, and was seen alive in the hotel at half-past ten o'clock last nijit. lie did not put in an appearance thin morning, ;'.nd at noon the servants went to deceased's room to see if anythiug was the matter. The servant on entering deceased';! bedroom discovered him lying on the bed covered with blood with a revolver in his hand. He was quite dead. The police were immediately communicated with. The bullet from the revolver entered the temple, coming out on the other side of deceased's head. The wall was spattered with blood. On a chair by the bedside was found a letter addressed to Mr Houston. It ran as follows : Dear Mr Roulston,—fly the time you read this I will have passed 11 another planet. The laudonum and strychnine having failed three times, I sot suddenly ill liV.ely. I shall now see what a revolver will do for me. James Ross kindly lent it me, as I wanted to shoot my dog. Many will say it is a terrible act to take your own life. I consider it honorable than going through the Bankruptcy Court, and my dibtti are nearly LlO, without the meariH to pny them, at the present time any way. It is the first time in my life 1 have_ been unable t) pay my tlebts. ami T am sure it will be the last. Not being a member of any benefit society, and having no means to consult a doctor, I bad to seek by gin the last few months' relief from my Buffering from the ailment I am afflicted with. I can stand it no longer. All who hold with the Hell and Heaven yarn will cay I am gone to that hot region ruled by his pable majesty, the treasurer to the clerical fraternity, for if they allowed the Devil no necessity they would get little for God's sake. P.S.—Napier not being advanced enough to have cremation, I expect I will have to be placed in a wooden suit. You will please take possession of my effect* to meet the costs of tho case. Hoping you speedy recovery, and that you may bo spared to watch over your family. My watch will be f'>und under my pillow on rny bed. I would ask one moro request that my little dog be buried with mr. A bottle iu the portmanteau contains strychnino that would poison him. Please see Mr Hops get this revolver. I will not start on rr.y journey before daybreak, so •>« not to disturb anybody by the report of tho pistol. There will bo time during tho day for the coroner to go through tho farce of an inquest. The keys of the bookstall are left in tho box. I do not dread to meet the Ruler of the World, as I never willingly injured a mortal. Farewell. T. MM). Kennedy.