TIRED OF LIFE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5560, 16 February 1897, Page 3

TIRED OF LIFE.

Attempted suicide by ' POISONING,

The Wellington police received information last night that ft man Percy Smith had attempted suicide by taking an ovordoso of Ludanum, who was ail orderly to a General in London prior to coming out to this Colony, arrived here n few, week's ago by the Ruapehu, and wlion that vessel went ashore atFarewell Spit ho managed to dislocate his shoulder in some way, On arrival here he was taken to the Hospital, and, on being discharged cured, found his way to Mrs Knigco's boarding-house in Willis-strcet,aboiit a week ngo. He was said lo be expocting remittances, and ho seemed to be depressed aiid miserablo. Mrs Knigge acted the good Samaritan, and kept him in her house until "something,should turn up." He seemed to fool his position keenly, antf a, day or two ago offered his watch and chain to Mrs Knigge, but sh'o refused to take it, •Ho frequently threatened suicide, and when yesterday morning he disappeared his landlady became very anxio.us. Sho kept a look out for him, and last night about eight espied bim passing along the street. She called him and when ho c;in)JKn(o the restaurant, it was at oncogen that he was suffering from the effects of an opiate. When questioned on this point Smith said ho had taken three shillings' worth of laudanum, Mr Fitzgerald, chemist, was sent for, and at onro ordered the removal of .Smith to the Hospital. ' The man protested againstany fuss being made and became exceedingly riolent, eventually running out of the back entrance, as if making for the sea. Mrs Knigge followed him up and on her persuasions he desisted, and the police arriving ho was with some difficulty removed to a cab and thence to the Hospital, where we learned late last night that he was doing as well as could bo expected.

When onr representative went to tlio rest-auraut last night, lira Koigge gavo liitn the following letter, which she said Smith handed to her when he came in:—"Mrs Knigge,—l ain entirely sick of lifo. Tour kindness to me has been so greakthat I can never repay you whmPer I may give you." Ifc appears that Smith obtained the poison (it is not yet known from whom), and took it early in the moaning. He vomited very much during the day, which fact probably saved his life.

The man is fifty-five years of age. —AI7i. Times.