The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-10-28 00:00:00

THE STRANGE SUICIDE AT CARLISLE.

The unfortunate man Howard, who the other day
committed trickle off the Eden-bridge, at Carlisle,
under such singular circumstances, seems to have
meditated self-destruction more than three weeks ago.
The first entry in the diary sent to the police-office was
an follows :

"Sunday, the 24th of September.—Life, as It Is, tuft word
Without meaning, and not worth experiencing in its hest
form. Why? It i 3 only waiting to be diss.dred, live as we
like. I consider a man capable of being tAtinet when he is
dissatisfied with ever) thing—in fact, (1.11111.: his oWII
neatly. A man of a strong awl determined mind is capable
of executing any Ileed, as far as regards Oen'. SO all
SthrideS are nit cowards. A coward would rather kill
another than himself. Cowardice always dies a natural
death."

Then followed another entry, which bad apparently
been written while he was looking at the river on Thurs-
day morning:-- ll ill g

Huh. I am not adapted at all intellectually and would
like to live an honest life, and have pretty well, so far ; but
see everything looks wit worth thing for. lOh how I
should like to be a sociable being, but it cannot be, properly
speaking, now. Lot ling down ton these smooth waters, oh'
I fancy they are adapted for the easiest way to have this
world of woe—a continual warfare to try to exist. Put what
folly We will have to go at last. Now, IMI swim, and
when I plunge 1,10111 want to get out alive again. Anybody
is welcome to take me out if they please, hut I hope not alive.
Oh • what folly to become al and decrepit—useless, ill
everybody's way. Oh ! corrupt world ! It is a disease
of the human family. I write rather bra but never
niind ; it will soon be all over with this Individual.
Now my end is approaching it ilon't seem hard to
MO. It will only SAN 4. no A deal id tr0a1.,.. in the lent S.• far
lAA regards Wore existing towards a diS*Mail',ll, alit it may
as well be now ova hundred years hence Now, Soale like a
memorial after death, :tad even before; but such is the vanity
of vain-glorious beings insy Darwin—yes. Mr. Darwin
may well call as naturalised mmtkeys. Yon will lie monkeys
when you cannot call yourselves to recollection. I don't
know whether the last word is spelt right. What do you
think it I mean huneintly at large. My watch will stop
according to station time the moment I enter the water. Oh,
dear but death into lost its fear to a certain extent, tint it Is
ham to cause Ml.', own dissolution. Oh, that I never was
born. It would save me such a deal of trouble now. I most
'Midi this, my thougots Maim and consign myself to these
drea.tiul waters, I would much rattier die Mid sleep now. I
came to Carlisle last SI . lay week. I live for nothing."
The writer gOeS ItO VI Say that he wishes Ms gal
watch to be given to his father, together with a black
guit if cldthes four gold studs, got i ring, locket, and
gold watch chain on the watch. IFe states that he has
one ininuil mein him, and this is fir the man who picket
hint np, also the clothe:4 in him, except Us watch and
rhain already left to his father. The entry closes with
" Comble." To that entry had been added, appa-
rently whi4- he was in the "Crown Inn,- at Stanwix,
the following paragraph :---

"sig Illi[Mio. to e—lev-en.--I call in here. A little brandy
to warm me up I.efore I get cold and here I see an old
&me, lune a at with his tail out if. lilting himself upon
his hind legs to Open the door with bis paws ; a girl with
clogs clatters all over the liaise: a hump-bathe I WOMMI
50)5 the ' wather 'will he hot in a minute. litre she is. She
looks as if she had been dragged through is sick hospital.
This is the Crown Hotel."

The last entry must have been made while he was
on the bridve shortly before he threw himself myr the
parapet. It was as follows :--

" Thiv poor It nia 1.:4%mM Allen. I met poverty-sirnek,
I give him the lavt money I have, aria this hook to give to the
authorities Ile is thv owner of this last pound I have. Don't
take it from him —SAME EL 11.,W A El,-

The deceased was about thirty-four years of age.