SUICIDE FROM DESPAIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6998, 22 April 1884, Page 5

SUICIDE FROM DESPAIR.

[By TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION , .] Chbistchubch, Monday. The dead body of a man,, with a bullet wound in his head, was found in Hagley Park yesterday. From a letter on the body it appeared that deceased was John Rpsewell,. and his brother, James Rosew'ell, ia living in Sydenham, and his wife at JDevonport, England. In tho letter, which was very sad reading, the unfortunate writer set out that he had been in the Royal Marine service, and four years ago he was invalided through blood poieoning. Since then'he had suffered greatly, ■■- especially from . pains in the head. He came here in the lonic, arriving a few weeks ago, but though better on the voyage he soon had a return of his old malady. Failing to get relief from various doctors he applied to, he spent the last money he had ~£2—in the purchase of a revolver, with the iotontion of. destroying himself, as he despaired of ever obtaining a release from his pains.' He wrote the first, part of his letter on April 7, ; on which day he intended to shoot himself; but he went to see a druggist, then 'to Dr. Townsend, and finally was admitted to the Hospital. No relief followed, however, and he says that he falsely stated he was better,' in order to get out o'f the Hospital; and on April 15—the date of the second portion of this letter—he appears to have carried out the intention .with which ho bought the revolver. ' . :