ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11999, 17 October 1906, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

» Suicide on Rangitoto (}'"■ Luitr<l T'f'M <>;«•■.■' ntnn) ALUK.LAND, October 16. lnb^vctor Cuhen received a brief note, dated October llth, and signed " Chas. Leitch. alias Charles Pollaid," stating that the writer's dead body would be found on the summit of Rangitoto. The letter was worded as follows: — " To the Chief of Police, Auckland. — On the top of Rangitoto will be found my dead body. Please- deal with it as your laws direct. — Charles Leitch, alias Charles Pollard." Two constables set out for the island at 7 o'clock this morning, and returned shortly before 3 o'clock, bringing with them the dead body of Leitch, which they had found at the top of the cone, as indicated. His throat was cut, the juglar vein being severed, and in his right hand he held a razor. • He was also severely cut about the abdomen. Seven yards away from where the dead body was lying was a wooden cross, sft 6in in height, upon which the following was inscribed : " Even though it be a cross." The cross was smothered in blood, and it is presumed that the deceased cut his throat while leaning on the cross. In one of the deceased's pockete a note, addressed to the coroner, was found, explaining that the rea=on for the deed was to bring into prominence a work he had written dealing with human personality.