The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-05-09 00:00:00

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

An inquest was opened on Satnnlay afternoon at
Sherburn, near Durham, on the bodies of two mem•
hers of the Durham County Constabulary, the horrible
circumstances in connection with whose deaths have
given rise to a vast amount of painful interest in the
county.
The names of the men are John Cruickshank and
David Paton, the former thirty-one, the latter thirty
years of age. On Friday evening, about half-past six.
Cruickshank was murdered in the most deliberate and
cold-blooded manner by Paton, who at the same Owe
took his own life. To ascertain the circumstances con-
neeted with this bloody tragedy an inquest was held
before Mr. Maynard at the place ',Uwe stated. The
jury having viewed the bodies of Paton and Cruick-
shank, the former lying at his own home, the latter in
the 1n:1.1k-house where he had sought refuge, the fol-
lowing particulars were elicited :

On Friday afternoon the deceased men had been in Durham
on business of an unpleasant character. Paton, it appeared,
had been reported to the chief constable for some alleged
irregularities of conduct, the witness against him being
Cruickshank. The charge was dismissed, but before the men
quitted the presence of the chief constable Cruickshank
volunteered a statement to the effect that Paton ball been
dismissed Dom a constabulary force in Scotland. l'aton, on
being questioned, admitted this to he true, and the chief
constable had no alternative but to cancel his appointment,
with an order that he should send in his clothes OH the fol-
lowing day. About live o'clock on Friday evening Cruick-
shank left Durham in company with Police-constable Mackay
to go tim Pitting.ton, where he resided. On their any these
two men called at the house of a brother officer, and, as
they were leaning to prosecute their Journey, Paton came
up from Durham and joined them. The trio, pro weeded
along the road; but, it appeared, not a syllable was breathed
by one of them as to what had been said and done in the
chief constable's office; on the contrary, judging from their
demeanour and conversation to each other, Paton and Cruick-
shank seemed to be On the best if terms and in the best pos-
sible humour. Cruickshank, on preparing to go home by a
coal Hoe branching from the road on which they were
, travelling, was desired by Paton to proceed with him to
sherburn, as he had an 'lnformation" to give him. Cruick-
shank consented, and on arriving at Pettingtom, Paton went
into his house, and Cruickshank stood waiting his return
I with " the information" In front of a public-honer about 100
yards distant from Piston's dwelling. In a moment the
latter was seen to emerge from his own doorway, having
sontsthing cuitcealesi bchind his back. Ito walked across the

street to where Paton was standing, and when about half.
way preffenf,ed a sin-chambered revolver, fully charged and
capped, seeing winch, Cruickshank ran into the public-house
just in time to escape the effects of the first discharge.
Paton, however, followed him into the hill, fired two other
shots at him, and Cruickshank dropped a dead man. Paton
then walked to the front of the public-hethe, and, In the
most cool summer, /mil without uttering a word, placed the
barrel of the revolver behind his left Co and fired the con-
tents into Ins head. He was removed home awl died in the
course of two tiara, not having breathed a word to those
an emit him: indeed, he was almost unconscious.

,
The occurrence was witnessed by several persona, including
police-constable Mackay, who had gone into Paton's house
Just as he was leaving; Ind tho quickness with which the
deed, was effected—in less than a couple of minutve—pre•
vented tne Illttlitball.lG Of 411.,
It is not true that Paton hail an "information " to give to
Cruickshank, and it is evident. therefore, that Paton hail for
solute time before its occurrence conteniplated the horrible
crime.

I One of the witnesses called was Mrs. Jesse Paton, widow
if the murderer, and she stated that for some time past her
husband had Ccii mush depressed iii his mind ; that us
hisses he would laugh and cry immoikrately that he would
cony razors about with him ; that he hail lately taken to
wilting sermons; and that lie hail stated that lithe perse
cations to wiiish siihjeot. continued Is would
commit suicide. His language, his demeanour, his acts had
been such as to lead her to suppose that he would do
self violence. Mrs. Paton also stated that her deceased has.
l•and received an injury to his head from the kick of a horse,
site mining ad a In India. Ile had been about two
years iii the fOrt.C, anti W.UI wrually tetlivctaut ari an able,
courteous, and intelligoit officer. Ile had previously served
in the Haddingtonshire Scotland force. The revolver he
brim
Vkslit with Min from. India, where served. several years.
lie la very rsape,tal.ly connected.
Cruickshank was a ScolCinnail, alid Was b‘illialy a private
in the Edinburgh police-force. Paton and Cruiekihank each
leave a widow and a family.

The jury found a verdict of "Wilful Murder" 4,,ainet
Paton, who they also found had taken hie own life, but
there um not sulticie:ut evidence as to the .tate of his
mind.