LOVE AND SUICIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6296, 21 January 1882, Page 7

LOVE AND SUICIDE.

A most determined attempt to commit suicide was mado at the St. Peter's Church of Kngland Parsonage, Eastern-hill, oil Sunday January 1, by Mr. Frank Harding, M.A., a curate of the clmrch,"who was latterly engaged as master of a leading grammar school in Hobart, Ta-mania. It appears that Mr. 'Harding, who 22 years old, recently returned from Tasmania for the ostensible purpose of spending the Christmas holidays, but really to renew his addresses to a young lady wich whom he had been on terms of close friendship when acting as curate at St. Peter's Church. His attentions were not received in as favourable a manner as he dfsired, and in consequence he_ determined to put an end to his existence. Shortly after dinner on Sunday he took a 6oz. mixture containing about two drachms of hydrate of chloral, followed by a second dose of the same mixture containing between two and three drachms of hydrate of chloral. The poison took immediate effect, and on the arrival of Dr. Teague, who was sent for, the sufferer was found to be in a thoroughly prostrate and paralysed condition. The usual remedies were assiduously applied, but owing to poison having been taken immediately after a hearty dinner no effect was produced I for some hours, and it -was not till after powerful antidutes had been administered that the sufferer showed any signs of recovery. By unremitting attention, however, Dr. Teague succeeded in counteracting the effect of the poison, and on Jauuary 2 Mr. Harding was considered sufficiently out of danger to be allowed to go about. He seemed to be determined, however, to put an end to his life, and plainly told Dr. Teague and his friends that if he were not allowed to have his own way in t!ie love affair, nothing would prevent him from carrying out his suicidal purpose. The counsels of his friends were disregarded, and although it was pointed out to him that the feelings and interests of the lady in question should be primarily consulted in such a matter, he only replied that he would be willing to wait three or four years if such a course was thought necessary, but unless the lady undertook to marry him at some time more or less remote he would commit suicide. It was at first proposed to call in the police and hand Mr. Harding over to them for his own personal safety, but as it was thought that such a course would endanger his prospects in life, and cause him to lose his appointment in Tasmania, the idea was abandoned. After a while Mr. Harding appeared to give up the idea of suicide, on being reasoned with, and no further notice was taken of the occurrence. During January 3, however, he purchased a much larger quantity of hydrate of chloral, and made a second attempt to destroy himself. On the. fact being discovered, he was immediately removed to the Melbourne hospital by the clerk at St. Peter's Chureh, where he was admitted shortly after 5 o'clock, and treated by Dr. Backhouse, one of the resident surgeons. . He was then in a prostrate condition, and partially unconscious, and although all the usual remedies were applied he gradually sank, and died at half-past 10 o'clock. The Rev. Canon Handfield was in attendance at the hospital during the evening, and administered the rites of the church to the sufferer. An inquest will bo held.—Melbourne Argus.