The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-28 00:00:00

SUICIDE OF AN OXFORD COLLEGIAN.

A most determined suicide by a scholar at Bslllol
College was made at Oxford on Friday last. The
gentleman in question, Mr. Favour James Greg.
Snell Exhibitioner of Rani.' College, proceeded to
Port Meadow, a common of 500 acres, and clinching a
retired pert known as Howell's Corner, deliberately cnt
his throat with a razor. A labourer, who saw the Occur,
rence. obtained assistance, and Mr. Greg was conveyed
to the Radcliffe Infirmary, where be died on Sunday
night.
Mr. G,g hail been advised by his former medial
adei,er M. Ilitchings, to abstain from study firs
time ; but was lately engaged in come exanainations
In winch he was not successful, and this with over
study lad evidently preyed on his mind. Mr. Gre4
was a geotlettom of the highest attainments, baying
taken a first-class in the University examination,
besides competing ounce...fulls at College. The
sad affair caused a painful feelizg throughout the Uni-
verhity.

An inquest has been held, and from the evidence of
Mr. CAM Ritchie M'Clyniont. who was on intimate
terms with him, it appeared that the deces,ed had
been very notch depressed in temsequence of the too.
finement of his mother in a lunaticasylum, but wanes
observed in him nothing that would have suggested to
him that he intended to destroy himself. He was of
a weakly and restle.sdispo.ition.
Thomas Rowland, of W. olvercot, b.und the body on
Portmeadow, about half•pisst FiX on Friday evening,
before lite was quite extinct, and with assistance
brou2ht the body to the Radcliffe Infirmary. De.
ceic.e.l tried, but could not speak. A razor lay by his
side, covered with blood.

George Hitchings, surgeon, of Oxford, had known
the deceased for two years past, and attended him since
18.68. Ile suffered from excitement minsequent upon
close reading. He was very abstemious in his habits.
His niehts were very much disturbed, and he always
mitioared depressed.
re,xsinination of Mr. Al'elymont, it appeared
that the deceased had been obliged to place his mother
under restraint some time last year, that she had
re sivend until about three weeks since, when she was
t 4,1 again to be confined. This pressed very
heavily upon him, and he frequently mentioned his
trouble to the witness. He expressed some disappoint-
ment in Lot gettil g the Jenkins exhibition. He took
a tirst class in moderations in 186 S.

%tarp Wotton, at whose h-i'm-s-e. he lodged, observed
him a...1.y much depressed. 11, left her hotnie about
half-past ono. She hal olser, oil that he was very
tacit urn and not ci,erful. He was expecting a letter.
Ad the term he st.pcared very melancholy.
The Rev. Dr. Soct, Mascsr of Batliol, had received
aI. tier from Mr.. Wotton, addressed by the deceased
to his stepfather, which announced what he meant to
.10, :Ind expressed extreme aeony of mind and Mal-
in...erne of thought. It was the letter of a man who
had het himself, The letter is now destroyed.
After a careful summing up by the Coroner, the
jury retnruell a verdict "That the deceived destroyed
himself wlrle in a state of temporary insanity.