EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE OF A BOY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9401, 6 January 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE OF A BOY.

Details of the sad suicide of a boy of 12 in Dublin were given in the Dublin Social Review the other week. In a house in the Coombe lived a f?.raily consisting of a mother and four children, who had been well-to-do people and were well connected, but owing to the bankruptcy and suicide of the father had been reduced to penury and obliged to live in one room, which three other families also occupied. They were in rags, and almost starving. A little son of 12 was so distracted at the sufferings of his mother and sisters that, in despair of being able to support them, he bought with the few shillings which he had earned some articles of clothing and papers entitling the buyer to insurance coupons. He then went and drowned himself in order that his family might be helped out of misery by his death. In his childish ignorance he did not know that his doing so would be considered a fraud, and bring no benefit whatever to his dear ones. This is the letter which the poor child wrote to his mother before he went to his death :—

" Dear Mother,—l spent the four and sixpence halfpenny for your benefit, and I hope the money it will bring you will help you to forgive my rash act. Tell the police to search in the harbour at Portobello, and when they have found me get them to write a description of my clothes and what I have in my pockets. They will find a cap that cost sixpence, and will entitle you to £200 insurance money; pair of suspenders, 4£d, with a coupon on them for £300; a belt, 6d, for £100; and papers, one entitling you to £1000 and the others to £500 each— all £3500. ' Don't spend too much on my funeral, and mind the money, which will make you rich.—Your loving son, Ferdinand de Freyne Riknzi de Coußor. J?.S. —Good- "