A VAIN SUICIDE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 November 1923, Page 2

A VAIN SUICIDE

WIFE’S TRAGIC ACT.

SYDNEY, October 25.

Thinking that her husband, who was being tried on a charge of conspiracy, would be sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, a woman in Brisbane left a pathetic note, in which she said : “I have nothing further to live for,” and went to death by her own hand. Her* husband was found not .guilty and was discharged. Her sacrifice had been all in vain.

This pathetic story aws told at the inquest on Miriam McKenzize, who, in a note which she sent to the Criminal Investigation Branch, said that she intended to commit suicide.

Her husband, Donald McKenzie, manager of a Queensland cotton ginnery, was on trial on charge of having conspired to steal money. The trial came to an end after the wife had been found dead. McKenzie was discharged. At first the wife sat in court, smiling encouragement at her husband in the dock, but afterwards she was told that her husband would be sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, and she became depressed. She suggested to him that they should take their lives together. He comforted her and told her to dismiss the thought from her mind. This she promised to do. On October 6, Mrs. McKenzie was found dead. A letter which was handed to the C.I. Branch read:

“To the Police, —I shall die by my own hand to-morrow morning. I can be of no further assistance to my husband, and so feel that I have nothing to live for. I appeal to you and to those who are bringing charges against fiim to consider the succession of severe shocks to which his nerves have been subjected, and to remember that the man with 100 degrees of resisting power, who failed because he was assailed by 101 degrees of temptat'on, should not be condemned in the minds of people who were infinitely weaker, but were never assailed by the one overwhelming degree of temptation. Out in the sunshine, among the big clean .things in creation, I shall go contentedly and calmly. I love him and he loves me, and we understand each other. If any doctor will be kind enough to do so, please allow linn to sever my jugular vein. Miriam McKenzie.”