A BOY'S SUICIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13780, 19 June 1908, Page 5

A BOY'S SUICIDE.

."ALWAYS IN THE WAY." STRANGE CASE AT HAMILTON. [raow oi;e OWN"- COBKESrON'DENT.] Hamilton', Thursday. A ' jiis'i'RßSsiXG suicide by hanging look plate on Wednesday., evening, of a lad named Leslie Franklin, aged 17 years, who resided with his grandfather, Mr. J. Franklin, of Nixon-street, Hamilton East. It appears that the deceased, who was employed at the Hamilton Hardware Company's factory, returned home about five •♦'clock. When his grandfather came home he found him standing in th© kitchen. His ♦sister being absent, it was hie duty to have got the tea ready, but he had not done so. On his grandfather asking the reason, he said he " did not think it worth while.," He complained of having lost a letter on the subject of suicide, which he said he" had contemplated, but had since changed his mind. Tea was prepared, and deceased ate portion of it. He read the paper for a short time before going out of the house. His grandfather about half an hour later noticed the shed door open. On going to it, he was horrified at seeing the body of the boy hanging from one of the 'rafters. He cut the body down, and endeavoured to restore life, but without avail. He then called in Mr. Day, who telephoned to Dr. Goring, who was soon on the spot, but too late to do any good. An inquest -was held, this afternoon to inquire into the circumstances. The grand* father stated that there had been no quarrel of any kind, and the boy and himself had been on the best of terms, except that deceased was of a morose, sulky nature, and never satisfied. As soon as witness found the body he cut it down. . •Sam. Hardly, with whom deceased was employed, gave evidence as to finding a letter on the floor of his shop, dated Sunday, addressed to "My friends and all whom it may concern," in which the writer expressed his intention of doing away with himself. The letter was unsigned, and as a number of young men were employee' in his shop. he. did not know who had written it. He took no notice of it. The letter stated that the writer was tired of this world, and he wondered why ho had lived so long, as he was always in the way, and kept other people from progressing. The writer said that "it was pretty 'solid' that a 'bloke' of 16 should take such a step, but he claimed the same privilege in this respect as 'blokes' of 20, 30, or 40." His memory, the letter went on to say, would quickly' be forgotten, and he thought he was doing the best thing. Leo Eevell, mate of deceased, said during the swimming season deceased had on several occasions threatened to do something desperate. The jury found that deceased committed suicide while temporarily insano, express- | ing the opinion that he had had a good, ■comfortable home. I ,- • '