DETERMINED SUICIDE AT CAMBRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7863, 4 February 1887, Page 5

DETERMINED SUICIDE AT CAMBRIDGE.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Cambridge, Thursday. Adolph Loukie, formerly agent for Mr. W. S. Laurie, and late manager of the seed, etc., business of Mr. W. B. Soutter, committed suicide last night by hanging. Yesterday Lourie did not go to business, and his neighbour, Mr. Rugc, thought he seemed upset about something, but in the evening deceased was as usual, smoking his pipe and reading the paper on the verandah of his house. Mrs. Lourxe has been in Auckland for her health six weeks. This morning the servant, Mary Sutherland, who did not Bleep in the house, arrived at seven o'clock, but could not obtain admittance. Somewhat alarmed, she went to Mr. Ruge, who returned with her. Failing to receive a reply to their knocks, Mr. Ruge burst open the back door, fearing Lourie was ill. There was no one in the house, and the bed had not been slept in. Mr. Ruge thought that possibly Lourie had slept at Gillott's Hotel close by, and went home.

Soon after Miss Sutherland arrived at his house in a hysterical state, and said Lourie was hanging in the stable. Mr. Huge ran to the stable, the door of which was locked from the inside. Through the lattice of the door he saw that the statement was too true. He immediately went to Constable Brennan, who effected an entrance, and cut the man down. Lourie was hanging from a rafter, his feet being six inches from the floor. He had taken a chair to the stable, but had not used it, as the chair was inside a box, from which it appeared he had jumped. Over his mouth and nostrils a handkerchief was tied tightly, and the body was stiff and cold, evidently having been hanging all night. The body was clothed with tho exception of the coat. On searching the house, which was in excellent order, tho constable found in deceased's coat pocket two telegrams of yesterday's date from his wife, asking why he did not write. No cause can yet be aiisigned for the rash act. Lourie was a man of quiet habits, and respected by all who knew him, and the last man anyone would have expected to do such a thing.

The inquest was held at the National Hotel at two p.m. to-day, before Mr. W. N. Searancke, coroner. After the jury had viewed the body, evidence was given by Mary Sutherland, a domestic servant, employed by the deceased ; Bruno Ruge, a neighbour ; A. G. Hughes, chemist, from whom deceased attempted to purchase chloroform ; W. B. Soatter, his employer; and Constable Breunan. The latter witness produced the following letter, whioh clearly shows that deceased had contemplated tho act for a considerable period : —

"January 8, 1887 : To W. S. Laurie, E«q., Auckland. Dear Sir, —Owing to business and other troubles my mind has been very much unsettled of late, and I have a presentiment that something serious is going Co happen, and therefore request you, as a last favour, to attend to my poor wife's interests in the event of my death. My life is insured in the New Zealand Government Insurance in favour of my wife for £500, and the premium paid to the Ist April, ISS7. I enclose all receipts, but the policy itself is in possession of the Government as security for a loan of £35 15s and 25s interest thereon ; the net amount to be recovered will, therefore, be £459 and £6 6s bonus declared to 30th June, 18S6. 1 also enclose certificates of marriage, which must be produoed before the insurance money can be recovered. I wish you to obtain from my wife a power of attorney to act on her behalf, and when you recover the insurance money deduct from it the £35 lis 2d due to you, being money collected by me, and not accounted for, the balance to be used for the benefit of my wife in any way she may decide ; in the event of my wife's death, the money to be used for the maintenance and education of our adopted son, Walter Reginald Lourie. I enclose certificate of his birth and order of adoption. My private debts—owing tradespeople in Cambridge and Auckland amount to about £65, and should be paid with the proceeds of the sale of furniture, although most of it was bought and paid for by my wife with her own money. I also enclose certificate of my naturalization. To assist my poor wife and child is the last request of yours, in great distress, —A. Louuie." The jury, after a long deliberation, returned a verdict to the effect that " We find deceased committed suicide by hanging, but what state of mind he was in at the time there is not sufficient evidence to show." This is the most determined case of suicide that has ever taken place in the Waikato.