The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-25 00:00:00

rHE LATE MILS. R. GRAVES, M.P.

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Much nympathy Was evoked last SatanlA- truing
both in L .n.ion and Liverpool by the rattMuncement
of the painfully sudden death of Mr. Graves, at an
early hour that morning, at the Easton Hotel. As
senior member la. Livta-vmd, and a le -ding tuerchant
and shipment r having extensive relations an well with
the l'ort ofLotalutias With the more northern centm
o f the 'dapping trade, Mr. Graves withirt the last few
ear, had succeeded in winning, universal esteem,
stad his unexpected death, almost in the prime
elf manhood, will create a proroand sensation through-
tout the great c”mmercial circles of the country.
Mr. Graves left his reeidenee, The Grange. near Liver-
pool, on Thursday, in last week, for London, to attend
la Board meeting of the London and North• Western
Railway Directors, of which, as well as of the
Steam Navigation Company, he was an active member.
'Taking an his usual qttarters for convenience of access
to the railway at the Eustoo Hotel, Mr. Graves trans-
acted his usual bus:nesa on Friday, and on the evening
-of that day dined with the Duke of Sutherland, one of
his co-directors, at Stafford-house it was nearly
two oV,ock on Saturday morning when Mr. Graves
-returned to the Fusion lioteL lie was then in
apparently good health, and after chatting with
the porter wrote a note to his friend Mr, 13 anley,
of Liverpool, who wad staying in the hotel, making
an appointment to breakfast with him at half
past eight o'clock that morning. He told the porter
that as he felt very tired hu would go to best at once.
In about an hour his bell rang violently, anti the porter
notching up stairs entered his bedroom, and found Mr.
stateves staneditif his uichtdreas jest within the door.
At thin tllolllPta the nnfortnnate itnntintnan tais.d his
hands to his 'neat], and exclaimed, "Porter, I believe I
an' dying. Go to Mr. Beasley 'd
room, and ask him to
come tc. me directly." Ina-very short time Mr. Graves
bad 'eased to exist.

At half7pas—t--fiTe o'clock on SAtnrday evening, Dr.
TAnkester, Coroner for the Central Division of Middle-
sex, ercpannelled a jar). of inhabitants of St Pancras
at the Euston Hotel, for the purpore of taking eviderce
!la to the canoe of death.
_ . .

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lice
first witness called was Mr. James Itemley, who said
I reside In Liverpool, and was well aciresinted with the de,
ceased gentleman, whose remains I Identify. He was lifts •
live years of age, a leading merchant and shipowner in Liver-
pool, and reeresented that place in the House id Commons.
osi Monday last at Liverpool, an. had not seen
hint alma until called into his bedroom this morning I
'.new him vt.ry intimately, but was not related to him.
/Mr. Bewley here beeame very much affected, and
wpeke under great emotion during the remainder of
Me examination.) The deceased came to London on
Thursday last, and had appointed me to breakfast
with him this morning. His health had not been very
good of into, and from time totime 1 bate heard him core•
plain that he Sound his duties as member for Liverpool
rather too much for his strength He had consulted Dr.
Rickereteth, and by his advice he had recently taken •
tees, in company with his son, to Lisbon, from which place
me had only lately returned 1 was in conVersation with him
ou Monday for at least an hour and a half, and he appeared
to me to be quite well then. He had his usual florid and
healthy appearance, and did not complain of any indisposi-
ti u. I was railed to his room this morning about twenty
minutes past three. He knew I was staying at his hotel anti
also the number of my bearoom. 1 went directly the
porter called me, and found him lying on the bed.
its told nor he had hart a little sleep, but awoke and.
deuly and felt very ill. He added that he feared
Be was not all right shout the heart, and said he
:telt great oppression in Mt chest. I replied, " Perhape
"Yon are eufferiug from an attack of indigestion.' He said
he had not taken anything that would have been likely to
disagree with him. But be repeated two or three times
that he thoucht there was something wrong about his
heart. I gave him a 110.1. 'oready which the porter
had brought to his bodeoom. Very soon after I got to
his room, Mr. Sivel'ltee, medical gentleman arrived, having
been summoned the porter. Ile had some conversation
with deceseed; eel after having exsmined his chest and
stomach left, as I understood, to obtain some medicines.
After Mr. Skelding hot left the room, Mr. Graves said he
Wished be could make him-elf slck, as he thought that
ovicht relieve the oppression he felt upon his chest. I
him not to make any effort, as if his heart was
Affected in any way any exertion might be Injurious. Pre-
sently afterwards he became very sick, and cm ceasing to
vomit he said he felt "very much better." These words
had sesrcely been uttered when I heard • loud stertorous
kind ot breathing. Approaching to the bed side, I saw that
the deceased had fallen back upon his pillow, and was lying
in a prostrate condition. I ask him "Are you in rale. I"
act receiving no answer I took up the candle and looked
upon his face. .1 saw that a great change had taken pLve,
and being alarmed I left the room to call for aid. At the
bedroom door I met Mr. ekelding and told him what had
haPPened. Three minutes ba t Oct &farmed from the time
deceased mild he "felt very mil,h better" until the medical
man came is and pronounced him to be dead.
Jr. Joseph Wielding said—l urn a member of the College
of Surgeons. I was called to see deceased shout half-past
three o'clock this morning, He was In bed, and complained
of feeling great oppression about the reelon of the heart and
stomach. He told me he had been dining out, but hail
eaten and drank only moeerately, and had returned to the
hotel about half-past one o'clock. He tohl me he had taken
only one cigar. Ile told me he thought he had been over-
worked—that he had been doing too much. 1114 pulse was
eeehle but regular, and markeel about SO. The rtomach
,ppeared tpripanetie or Mated with wind, and ha
oaffered from eructations while I was present. Findiug
that he had already taken • little brandy, after com-
pleting my exemination I hurried back to sty surgery to
obtain mere medicine. Before retuning with it to the
deceased's bedroom, I arranged with • porter to prepare
some hot water and mustard. When I got up stairs I met
the landing Mr. Homely, who told ma a great change had
'occurred in his friend, and on entering the bedroom I
Vont,' Mr. Graves quite dead. I have since, 12 hours after
death, made a post-moi rem examination by your order.
Esternally the body presents no marks, but Is well
tiourished—in fact, fat. Internally I found the right
side Of the heart congested, especially the right auricle,
Mal was thin, with decided degeneration of its walls. The
loft ventricle was e ntracted. and the substance of the
heert mile ant thicky covered with fat. The valves were
L ',meetly healthy, hut there was a commencement of dege•
-vexation f the aorta The Icings and the liver were healthy,
dnt both sitehtly en.g and the stomach contained
a tout a pint of partly Mantel food. I attrihute the cause
of death to fatty degeneratien of the heart, producing
"yo cope, peobanly accelerated by • slight Wadi of Mill-
reetion.

The last witness was John Tidmarsh, who said am
nights porter at the Euston Hotel. It was rearly two o'clock
vulen I admitted Mr. Graves this morning. lie then appeared
quite well, and was very chatty. He told me he hmi just come
from the Duke of Sutherland's, with whom be had been
dining. Ile wrote • iode in pencil at my desk, which he told
me to give to ids friend, Mr. P.eszley, when I went
to his room in the morning, and then remarking that he
was very tired, went upstairs to bed. About twenty
minutes after three this morning a bell rug from the ficor
on which Mr. Graves was sleeping, awl I answered it.
Not feeding quite sire from sal it room tie ben had
been rung, I was 'about opening the aljoining apart.
merit when I heard a deep proan in Mr. Graves' room I
went to the door, and on opening it found Mr. Graves stand-
ing in his nishtdress Just inside the room. On seeing me
he threw up his arms to his head and eulaimed, "Porter
I believe lam dying Call up my friend Mr. Heasley, and
send foes doctor, and let me have urne brandy." Ile then
stepped backwards sled threw himself upon his bed. IA hen
first law him in his bedroom he said he hod had a little
sleep, but waking up suddenly had felt very ill. I ronsed
Mr. Beasley and rail for the doctor, but was not in the room
when deceased died.

The Foremon It has been stated more than once that
deceased had recently complained that his duties were too
much for him. Now, I should like to know whether thwe
duties of which he complained were his Partiameutary
duties I

Coroner : Really, Sir, I think we bad better not go
Into that question. We have before an in the medical
evidence the condition of the heart of the deceased, In
Itself quite sufEn ient to render his life uncertain, this
di,ease hal probably been going on for years, an,. must, u
a matter of course, have ended fatally some day. There
cannot, I think, be a doubt upon your minds as to the view
to be taken of this case. We have evidence that there has
been no blow, no fall, and no suspicion of poison of any
kind. Rut the poet-pnortern examination discloses that the
deceased's heart was in a very unsafe condition, and had no
doubt been so fr ninny mouths. This being no, its action
might cease from a v,ry slight canto at any moment. What
nay you?

_
The fury at once assented, and • Verdict of "Death from
natural causes" was recorded.
In closing the proceedings the Coroner said it W3S a MOSS
fortunate circumstance, and would no doubt be a mat con-
solation to Mrs Graves and the members of her family that
their friend Mr. Beasley was with the deceased when he
died. That gentleman had applied to him early in the day
to hold the inquest without soy loss of time, and under the
very sad circumstames he had felt it ht, duty to comply
with the request, and the remains of the deceased could now
at once be removed to LiverpooL
!dr. Beazley, still speaking under much enr.tion, zatd, on
behalf of Mrs. Graves and her children, he desired to e‘press
their atneern thanks both to the Coroner and to the gentle-
men of the jury for having no obligingly assembled at a short
notice and at what he feared must have proved to many an
imonvenient hour.
Thu proceedingi thou terminated.

Mr. Graves' eldest son arrived in London just aft 11
the inquiry hsvl clo.ed, and at midnight the remains
of the deceased, accompanied by his son and by Mr.
lieardey and other friends, left by special train for
LiverpooL

The news of the Ptviden death of Mr. Graves, M.P.,
was received in Liverpool by all parties with a feeling
of profound regret. On three different publi! occa-
sions Mr.-Graves spoke in Lieerpoel Nei Iveek, and
appeared to be in his usual health. Flags were floated
half-ma et..friern all the public buildings, and on 'Change
and elsewhere the earl event ermossed attention.
Several intended meetings and assemblies ware post-
poned in mensequenole of the occurrence. TM re is but
one sentiment ex pressed, the hom gentleman having
been held in the highest esteem in the town which be
so worthily represented.

At the meeting of the Pacific Steam Navigation
Company, held in Liverpool, on Monday, before the
ordinary burliness was entered upon, the chairman, Mr.
Charles Turner, M.P., said :—Geutlemen, fiesre calling
upon the secretary to read the report, I have a melan-
choly duty to perform in caßin4 your attention to an
event which is no doubt in all your minds, viz., the
great hoc which this company has sustained by
the very pinkie!, death of an esteemed and able
member of this Board, Mr. Graves. As you are all
aware, Mr. Graves bed been long a member of the
Board of this company, and we have cause ti reg. et
very deeply, along with the whole town, the hoes of
his services. The town has cause to regret the loss of
a most able representative, and you, gentlemen, have
also to react the loss of one who hies rendered very
great Pervicies to this company. lam sure you al,
deeply regret the loss which we have sustained, on per-
sonal, business, and political grounds ; and you will,
no doubt, nnite with this Board and with the whole
town in deeply sympathising with his family on their
b sreavemeut.

The Liverp ol county magistrAtes, thr ugh Mr. R.
Houghton, expreeserl on Monday their great regret at
the lose which b ,th the Bench and the town had sus-
tained by the death of Mr. Graves.

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Throughout the wh le of the town and district an
universal feeling of sympathy is felt for the widow and
family of the late member. The local paws have pub-
lished extended biographies of the dee•axed, and all
pay the higheet testimony to the vslue of his publi,
,haracten

There wee a brilliant satemblage at Sandringham
House, last ~attirday, ice OCCAii4.I. being A 1:47:11-111,t f th,-•
We.tt Norf..lk Hounds when the Royal lii e.O ov.h •
motel breakfast to the members of the hunt. After I.ra.kfamt
the hounds were led out by the Norwich gates, followed by
numerous c4valcade, in which took part the Prince and
Princess, tithe, and guests, a Collellerable ptonorlinn ,d the
West Nortoik nobility, and a largo number of ladba in
carriage.., wen as In theaaddle. As very many of thew-nth.
men. In.ind icc the Prince, were In marlet, the proceasiou,
It Olive . through the avenue, of stelae Hulce, wee very
picturesque. A fox was drawn out of lady. h cod and
killed, after a very short run on gan.hingham Heath. Twc
or three nth, preserves wtre drawn, but without surctrea.
Their itlyal ffighnewow and Wends returned tJ bandrlieibare
noose MAU Ave o'clock.

Dr.ATH OF THE HON. AND REV.
BAPTIST NOEL.
We rearet to announce the death of the Hon. and Res.
Baptist No I, which took place on Sunday eternocn. The
tot owing short sketch of this rameraebr• man Is from Hoe
Daily

Mr. Novl, a younger eon of Sir Gerard Noel.
Tool, by the Baroness Barham, and brother
to the Earl of Gainskilling!), was bore in 1799, and
educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. For
many years Mr. Noel was one of the most eminent
preachers in London, and the large chapel, in St.
John'o, Bedford-row, formerly the scene of the
labours of Richard Cecil cud Daniel Wilson, after-
ward Bishop of Calcutta, was crowded every
Sunday. Mr. Noel first became known to the
gen. mil public by his vigorous denunciation of the in-
justice if the Corn Laws, His pamphlet was the
more valued by the leaders of the Repeal movementi
then irtich needitig aid, from the certainty that it
wonld be read by many who were prejuriice I against
their agitatioa. Soon afteievards Mr. Noel was ao-
pointid one of the chaplains to the Queen, and his
sermons at Whitehall t nd St. James's form one of the
more or more :;: s &trues whrch he published during
hie ettive career. lii 1848, having aceryuired the
Zonviction that the union of the Church wirh the
S.ate was contrary to the spirit of the Christian re
ligion, he announcsd his intention of seceding from the
Church of England, and the Bishop of London pressed
him to take the step at once rather than unsettle the
minds of his hearers. After he had left St. John's
• rat attempts were made to restore its declining in-
tereste ; but the vast congregation had diTersed, the
noble institutions of charity were broken up and in a
few years the building was pulled down, the roof
having first fallen in, and the site is now covered
with dwelling.houses. Mr. Noel joined the Bap-
tists, and soon succeeded the Rev. John Harring-
ton Evans, himself a seceded clergyman of the
Church of England, in the ministry of Johmetreet
Chapel. Having once clearly stated the reasons
of his Nonconformity in a formal work, Mr. Noel set-
tled rlown to a consise of public labour, and was chiefly
known as the warns and consistent supporter of un-
eeetarian and philanthropic movements. The Civil
War in the United States, and the lawless execution
of Mr. Gordon in Jamaica, were events which power-
fully kindled his fervour, and on each occasion he both
Wrote and spoke strongly in favour of what he deernest
the cause of Liberty and truth. On attaining the age
Of seventy he laid down the duties of • pastor, al-
though his active labours only ceased with the illness
veceding his death. In ineate life Mr. Noel was a
man of great amiability of character—patient, kind,
and sincere.