The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-11
SUICIDE OF POOR NEIL HEATH.
The Penalty of Speaking Lightly Of [
RELIGIOUS Doctrine.

Religious Doctrine.
Neil Heath. the despondent old school
teacher who killed himself at Victoria
last week, came to British Columbia last
fall. entered for the school teachers ex-
animation and passed very creditably.
An examiner is said to have made the
remark that Mr.. Heath's papers were the
best he had ever had submitted to him.
He secured a position as assistant teacher
in the Victoria high school at a salary
OF $li0 a month. He was popular with
the pupils and gave general satisfaction
to the board. Mr.. Heath was teacher
who knew how to make the rough road
to learning as pleasant and smooth as
possible for his pupils. But he was
charged with ridiculing the Roman Cath
oiic doctrine of transubstantiation, In
teaching a history lesson on the Test Act.
He told an incident of going into the
Church of the Madeline. Paris. and re-
ceiying q wafer. which he carried about
with him afterward. Heath told his pu-
pills that to Roman Catholics 1t was
Christ's body. but to him it was but
bread. He also said that Christ's body
must have been pretty large to last all
these years. The Catholics of Victoria
We're furious over these remarks, which
were repeated in "a distorted form.
Charges were filed against Heath, and
there was at first an investigation by
sustained, but the board held that the
council of education should handle the
matter. The latter body, through a man
singularly named Pope. held an examin-
ation and the school board followed with
another inquiry into the facts of the
case. The matter caused considerable
discussion. and the end of 1t was that
Mr.. Heath had his certificate suspended
for six months by the council of pub
tic instruction. Mr. Heath then began prt-
waite teaching. and had number of pu-
pills. But it was noticed that he was
acting In somewhat peculiar manner,
and he complained of feeling ILL.,
Heath was in the habit OF taking long
walks. He was a naturalist of no mean
attachments. and on many of his ram
bles he used 10 collect specimens. So
Ii created no surprise when he was first
missed. 1t was thought that night might
have overtaken him In the woods The
next day came and he did not turn up
at his rooms. His iandlady felt uneasy.
She recoilected that Mr.. Heath had al
ways told her when he would be away
for any length of time, but he had neg
lected TO do so in this case. Unchartt-
able people concluded that he had left
town. But IL was soon evident that
there was no occasion for such action on
his part. He owed little or no money.
and nothing was disturbed In his rooms.
and other specimens were there, and his
great friends, his books, were all I'm or
der. Not a book had been taken. A
further search. however, revealed the
fact that revolver he usually kept in
his room was missing. Upon this the
theory OF suicide was entertained.
a. b. Gray. who knew Mr.. Heath well,
said 10 Victoria Times reporter: Mr.
Heath was a modest man, somewhat &C.
said
talk about his attachments. He used to
talk TO me, however. considerable about
MS life and studies. He was a student
all his life. and was a good Greek Latin.
Hebrew. French and German scholar
was an analytical chemist OF ability. and
had also made a thorough study OF music
He was born in Aberdeenshire. Scotland
and was So or SIS years of age. At the
age OF - years, when he was preparing
Tor ms graduation at Edinburgh uni
yerSity. his mother, who was in afIlCent
circumstances, was robbed by a solicitor
who ahsconded. and young Heath was
calIea 10 her support and that OF his
sister. He accepted a position In
school at Aloa, Scotland where he con-
tinued for some time. He always fol-
lowed the profession OF teaching, and 10
accept position went 10 New Zealand
There he was rated as a most valuable
man. He was while there an intimate
ACQUAINTANCE OF Farquhar Macrae our
p9ltce magistrate. who speaks very highly
OF his ability and scholarship. He leaves
a wife and family in New Zealand He
came here from Honolulu. and was a
Fesidont here about year. 1t was a
pressure to talk with him. for he had
travelled the paths of nearly all knowl-
edge. and he had an apt way OF illustrat-
ing and simplifying things l believe In
me recent unpleasant incident az the
hish school he was seeking a clear ex-
PtanStion. He told me that he mean,
ne disres2ect bat admitted that he had
been in5iscreet.'