A MISSING MAN'S LETTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14148, 25 August 1909, Page 7

A MISSING MAN'S LETTERS

OUT OF THE WAY OF HUMANITY." RESULTLESS SEARCH. [BT TELEURAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Tuesday. John Robert Catherwood, 21 years of age, is missing from his home. Catherwood is a labourer, and has been employed by Mr. Carroll, contractor, of Colombostreet, Newtown, for some time. His parents reside in Nudge-street. For some days the missing man has been sleeping in a room over Mr. Carroll's stable, and there he has been found in the morning by his employer. To-day, however, when Mr. Carroll went to the young man's room, he found it empty. Blood stains on the floor aroused his suspicions and caused him. to look. He found a pencilled note, in the handwriting of Catherwood bidding him not to bother, as he would be out of the way of humanity. It was subsequently found that on Monday night, whilst at his parents' house, Catherwood had written two other letters, one to his father and one to a young woman who had rejected him, and in each of these he had also expressed his intention of doing away with himself. His disappearance was quickly reported to the police, and diligent search was carried out all day, but to-night no further trace of the missing man had been discovered.