Mackenzie, Alexander

DETERMINED SUICIDE AT PUSLINCH.
An aged Resident Goes out to a Swamp and
Cuts His Throat With a Razor.
On Monday morning the residents of Hespeler and the adjacent neighborhood of Puslinch were thrown into a state of excitement by the news that the body of a man had been found with his throat cut about five miles from the village.
The suicide was first discovered by three youths from Hespeler, William and Colin Campbell, and Michael Egan, who had set out hunting early in the morning. They were in Mr. Robt. Little's bush when they came across the body of a very tall man, lying with his face to the ground. What added to the horror of the discovery was the fact that his throat was cut from the right ear and the razor was lying on the log beside him. They at once gave the alarm and the neighbors soon recognized the body as that of Alexander Mackenzie, a well-known figure in the neighborhood. He had lived for thirty years there, working for Mr. Robert Hammersley, and was 70 years of age. Mr. Hammersley had recently sold out his place, and intended taking the old man with him when he went away, but the thought of leaving and breaking up the old associations, it is believed, was too much for Sandy, and he grew despondent. He left the farm at ten o'clock on Saturday morning and that was the last seen of him so far as is known, until the dreadful discovery was made that he had taken his own life.
He was an inoffensive old man, bore a good character and was much respected. His sad end is much deplored by friends and acquaintances. He left no family nor has he any relatives, so far as is known, in this country.
Coroner Keating was telegraphed for and he is holding an inquest in the temperance hall, Puslinch Lake, to-day.
LATER.
The verdict of the Coroner's jury was that the deceased came to his death by his own hand, while in a despondent state of mind.