The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-10-02 00:00:00

DISCOVERY OF THE BODY OF THE

LORD JUSTICE CLERK.

The mystery attendant upon the disappearance of
the late Lord Justice Clerk has been cleared up by the
discovery of his body, which took place on Friday last.
So thoroughly had every portion of the grounds in the
neighbourhood of Glenalmond House been searched,
that no hope was entertained of discovering him alive ;
and the attention of the searchers was wholly directed
to the river. The heavy rains for several days pre-
vented that thorough exploration of the deep pools
it was thought necessary to make; and when the flood
abated diligent search was made everywhere.
On Tuesday afternoon, just above the Spout of
Buchanty, a nix ,r case and neckerchief, the property
of the late judge, were found; and on Wednesday
forenoon marks of blood were discovered on an ash
sapling not far distant. A branch immediately over-
hanging the fill appeared to have been grasped by
some one while in the act of failing backward into the
river. Although the search was renewed about that
part of the stream, yet the depth of the pools baffled
the skill of the searchers until Friday. At last his
lordship's body was brouiht to the surface from a pool
shout twenty feet deep, close to the Spout of !Inch anty.
His throat was cut; and there is little doubt he died
! by his own hand.

The Right lion. George Patton, whose titular designation
as a Lord of Session is Lord Glenalmond, is the son of the
late James Patton, ESfl , of Glenalmoud, Perthshire, of
which county he was Sheritteleik, by Anne, daughter of
the late Thomas Marshall, EAll Mr. Patton w. 10,11 in
1803, was educated t,t the Perth Academy and at Trinity
College, Cambridge. In 1857 he married Margaret,
daughter of General Alexander Bethune, of Blebo, Fife-
shire. He was called to the Scottish bar In 1828, and held
Burn a position in the courts that he was selected to be
Solicitor-General for Scotland when Lord Derby Caine
into office in 1853, Mr. More being then Lord Advocate. In
1864, Mr. More, though in opposition, WAS raised to the
bench In Scotland by Lord Palmerston's Government, BO that
when Lord Derby's third government was created in 1806,
the way was clear for 'Mr Pattoo to become L rd Advo-
cate. Ile had early in that year obtaMed a teat in Par-
liament for Bridgwater, when the teat of Mr. Westropp,
who had been returned at the general election in 1865, was
declared void on petition, although he had to stand a contest.
In June of that year, when he accepted Mike under Lord
Derby, he had to seek re-election, and again had to encounter
an opposition, which was too strong for him, and he was de-
feated. Ile continued to hold the function of Lord Advo-
cate, but without a scat in Parliament, until the arrange-
ment was made by which Lord Col msay was induced to
resign the pont of Lord Justice-General, and was created a
Peer of the United Kingdom. This left the first Judgeship
on the Scottish bench vacant; and Mr. Inglis, who held the
second, that of Lord Justice Clerk, was promoted to the
Presidency of the Court of Session, and Ms. Patton was given
the latter office. This happened in 1867.