SUICIDE AT AUCKLAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8537, 18 March 1908, Page 2

SUICIDE AT AUCKLAND.

A PATHETIC NOTE

AUCKLAND, March 16. A jsuicidle under somewhat /sensational circumstances took place at Mayfield, near Birkenhead, last night. David Ernest Forest, aged 19, a carpenter employed at the Chelsea Sugar Works, yesterday rnorning said he had seen a rabbit in the vicinity of the house, and told his mother he thought he would go but and have a shot at it. For "this alleged purpose, he borrowed a neighbour's fowling-piece, and no one had any apprehension that there was an ulterior motive behind his action. About 8.30 o'clock in the evening he went out. His mother spoke casually to him as he left the house, and the son replied that he was going out for a- shot. Shortly afterwards the mother heard the report of a gun, but suspected noiSiing serious, as she believed a young man named I Wilcox was with her eon. A little I later Mrs Forest went to bed. Towards midnight, the eldest son, Donald, returned home, and on proceeding to his bedroom noticed a letter pinned to the- table. The note was addressed to him, and read as follows:— " I feel that I am becoming dotty, and am about to put an end to myself. Tell mother not to worry about me. You will find my body down below the house J under the little bridge." Donald Forest at once awakened his mother, and the p"air proceeded to the j spot indicated by the deceased in his letter. They found the body lying near the bridge with a gun beside it. The gun was a big-bored fowling-piece, and in the breach was a No. 12 Ballistite cartridge case. It was evident that the unfortunate youth had placed the barrel in his mouth and pulled the trigger. His head was utterly shattered. A doctor and constable were at once summoned, but the former could only pronounce that life had been extinct some two or three hours. Young Forest was a highly respected young man of exemplary character. Some time ago he underwent an operation for a polypus growth, and lately he had complained on waking each morning that he had spent long nights of pain and sleeplessness. It is thought that the fear of another operation preyed on his mind and induced him to take the extreme action to which he had recourse. During the day Forest appeared to be in rather good spirits, and spent part of yesterday morning in working at his Bible-class lessons, a tablet being found alongside the last letter to his brother.