AUCKLAND ANTS.

NZ Truth, Issue 66, 22 September 1906, Page 5

AUCKLAND ANTS.

At about 11.30 on Sunday night, engine-cleaner Gordon Handcock was walking along Quay-street on his way to work. The street was practically deserted and as Handcock went alongside he made a startling discovery. Hanging carefully on the rails on the water front, between Nos. 2 and 3 jetties, was a man's overcoat, and prominently attached by pins were two notes. Handcock hastily perused the notes under a lamp-post and immediately communicated with the police. The first note was apparently written with great care on pencilruled paper from a writing-pad, and was worded: "I, a lad named Edward Deer ing drowned myself over, this wharf this night, September 16, 1906. I HAVE REASON TO DO IT because some person has been run-; ning me down to the lowest. I am 20 years of age, and a member of Auckland Central Utmofo- .li any one wishes to know why v have done this you will find out, lull particulars from Miss -, Auckland. My wish is that my mother should know.. Miss has her address." The other note is scrawled hastily on another sheet of paper and laid on same concrete or taicjfs. This says : "I drowned myself because I am sick of life. Good-bye, all my,. 8 Mission friends, good-bye^ They, HAVE GOT RID OF ME now.; they can talk." The girl referred to m the letter is ahout 17 years of age and is rather of a prepossessing appearance, and told a "Truth" representative that she had been keeping company with Deering for same time. Her friends told her something about his conduct and on Sunday night as they were walking home from Mission service she asked him whether what she had heard was true. Deering replied it was all a pack of lies. He had been much upset lately owing to the news. His father had committed suicide and his sister was dead. She thought this; and rumors anent his own carryings on coming to her ears had unnerved him. Deering left her shortly before ■ten o'clock on Sunday night. They parted friends. It was his stepmother he referred to m his letter. Deering gave her no idea that he contemplated suicide. Deering's suicide is laughed at by those who know him. He was of a morose turn of mind and was always threatening to do away with himself. BIBLE-BANGER BLACK •of the Central Mission, denied that Deering was connected with the Mission. They had helped him to get work time after time, but he never kept a job long. Black doesn't think his would-be disciple committed suicide and says that he threatened to do away with hiniself many times, but needless to say never did it, as his fervent spirit would lead him to say, "Good-night ; God bless you all ; you will find me a corpse at twelve o'clock to-night." Black didn't add whether it was his own depressing discourses that caused Deering to be so morbid. The possible reason for Deering's daring deed is to be found m a friends statement made to "Truth" on Monday. This young man, who knew the deceased well, says the suicide tried to raise the cash from him on Sunday to take him to Paeroa. The Paeroa boat sailed about the sarnie time the hubbub was caused by the finding of Deering's overcoat with the notes attached. In the meantime the police are anxiously waiting for Wai tern ata Harbor to • GIVE UP ITS DEAD, which', up to the time of writing obstinately refused to do so ; the probable reason being that the corpse floated off South per boat on Sunday and is now busily engaged laughing up his sleeve at the newspaper reports of the tragedy.

(Bum Bailiff). He's a weird-looking cuss at the fciest Is Humphries. He develops his, chest At the wrontr end of his vest, And. Bum-bailifi is wrote on the crest r ' • Of J. Humphries.;

(Oah Proprietor). Bowden's the cove what owns all the cabs, ,The Jehus they call him "the skipper." He trundles around m his little dog cart, With a long-handled whip m his flipper.

Old T. C. Is a well-known cove, And a well-known cove is he. He calls for his hat, And he calls for his specs, But he never goes out on the spree.

(Manager Mutual Life Assurance Co.). Queen Auckland is, all must admit, Of cities the most fair. But what a host, of men are met Who. run to. feet and hair I,