THE LETTER

Evening Star, Issue 25708, 4 February 1946, Page 4

THE LETTER

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, February 4. An unfinished letter was produced at the inquest this morning concerning the death of Thomas William Fountain (34). a freezing worker, who shot himself when the police called at his apartment early yesterday morning. The police visit was the sequel to the shooting in the leg of Fountain's wife, Rita Lola Daphne (20), whose'condition in hospital to-day was satisfactory. At the inquest, deceased's brother. William Wellington Fountain, said deceased married after his return from overseas in October, 1943, Deceased appeared worried that his wife went to parties with other men. They .were living; apart, and his brother constantly wrote asking his wife to return ._ Witness produced the following unfinished letter, addressed to him, in his brother's handwriting:— " Dear Bill,—May God forgive me. I caught her at the usual church doorway. I went outside and waited. The chap ran away. I then saw .Rita. She pleaded with me, but too late this time. I emptied the magazine and went in search of the chap. God alone knows how 1 have suffered through Rita. How I kept from going mad I don't know, but I hope one day to see in the next world my wife, whom 1 was good to. She in return put it over me right the way through. I'm not afraid, but it is a shocking thing to think it would end up like this. I have always stood by just laws and righteous things to tha beat of my ability. Hard as I was in action, Rita has quite often brought tears to my eyes. She is gone now, and I hopo in the next world she will live with me as a true woman. Rita gave mo promises, and it made,me happy—the trusting fool that I was. She let me down." The letter ended here. . The inquest was adjourned sine die.