A DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10263, 22 January 1895, Page 3

A DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Lyttelton, January 9. John Reid, formerly of Timaru, employed as fireman and greaser in the Lyttelton Harbour Board cool stores, was missed last night. Ha went on duty at midnight quite sober, and was left in charge at 12.45 by the man going off duty. At 8 a.m. Engineer J. Burnip came on dnty and found the fires out and the engine stopped for want of steam. The lamps were still burning. The police were communicated with, and a'so the wife of tha missing man. It is ascertained that Reid was very despondent of late owing to his daughter having gone on a visit to Sydney with some friends and while there contracting a serious illness which necessitated her being left in the Sydney Hospital. This preyed on Reid's mind, and when leaving home on Tuesday night he threatened to drown himself. At Z ajn. his wife visited him with some supper, and in reply to Reid's inquiry said she wag unable to sleep after what he had said. She remained with him half an hour, when he told her to go home. Before leaving she begged him not to do anything rash, and told him to remember the little ones he would leave behind if he did away with himself. That was the last seen of him. The engine-bouse is a fen yards from the wharf. The police are now dragging the harbour. Reid was one of the lifeboat crew at the Timaru wrecks on the l*th May 1882, and received a medal for distinguished bravery. Much sympathy is expressed for hiß widow and family.

January 10. After persistent 'dragging the police found tha body of the missing man Eeid in tea harbour this morning, a few yarda from the eDgine house. A piece of iron piping abeufc 701b weight was tied round his neck by a handkerchief, which Eeid had torn in half for the purpose. From the place where the body wan found, tha deceased had evidently gone down an iron ladder, at the end of the wharf, and dropped in between the first and second row of piles.