SUICIDE OF A DUNEDIN SCHOOLMASTER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4748, 28 April 1900, Page 2

SUICIDE OF A DUNEDIN SCHOOLM ASTER.

Mr John L. Ferguson, well known throughout Otago as headmaster of the Albany-street Sohool, Dunedin— a position which he has creditably held for many years, committed suicide about 9 o'clock on Thursday morning by hanging himself at his parents' residence at Bavensbourne, near Dunedin. For the last six weeks or so deceased has been in bad health, and be was granted two months' leave of absence from the school. He was somewhat despondent of late, and was being attended by Dr Brown. He was in. about bis usual health on Thursday morning, and, although he has been in low spirits, the thought of hia making an attempt on bis life was never entertained for a single moment. He had his breakfast at 8.30, and about half-an-hour later his step-mother, wanting him on some ) business, called out for him, bat received no < answer. She looked through a window and saw him banging from the roof by a rope. On tbe room beiog opened it was found that life was extinct.

The deed seem? to have been a very deliberate one. The door was locked to ensure against interruption, and tbe rope (whioh hang from a bracket) was only 3ft above ttw

floor, but deceased, placing his head in a loop, strangled himself by allowing the full weight of his body to rest on his neck.