The Sun.
London, England, 1831-08-29 00:00:00

SUICIDE OF TWO LOVERS.

A great sensation has prevailed in the town of Ripon
during the last few days, in consequence of the sudden
disappearance of two young persons of the names of An-
drew Roy and Elizabeth Meadley. It appears they were
strongly attached to each other, and that their intimacy
had existed for two years. On Thursday evening, the
18th, this young couple were present at, anti took part in,
a dance at a public-house, along with the girl's parents, and
some other friends of the parties ; they all left the inn
about twelve o'clock. Roy accompanied his sweetheart
home, and went into the house ; he was rather intoxicated,
and wished to remain there all night ; the girl's father,
who was also in liquor, objected, and urged him to go
home. At this treatment, as well as from the disincli-
nation of the young woman's friends to the match, he felt
offended, and muttered something as he went away; be-
fore he quitted the house he asked to speak to Elizabeth
—" only for three minutes" privately ; her father re-
luctantly yielded to the joint entreaties of Roy and his
daughter, and allowed her to go to the door. She then
went out with her bonnet ; after waiting for some time for
her return, her mother went in search of them, but in vain.
Nothing was beard of the parties on Fridayor Saturday;
still it was hoped that they might have gone off for the
purpose of being married. On Sunday morning, however, a
leather case, containing two flutes, was found in the river
Ure, close by the town ; these flutes were known to have
been in Roy's possession, and used by him on the Thurs-
day evening. The most painful apprehensions now began
to be felt, and their parents were a prey to the most dis-
tressing fears. The river was dragged on Sunday, Mon-
day, and Tuesday ; band-hills were distributed, and every
inquiry set on foot by the Magistrates, and by the police
under their directions; but all were fruitless till the after-
noon of Tuesday, at four o'clock, when the body of the
young woman was found, entangled by her long hair in
some wreck and sand, about three miles down the river,
betwixt Ripon and Boroughbridge. The next morning
(Wednesday) the body of Roy was found near to the spot
where it is supposed they had gone into the river. A
Coroner's inquest sat upon the bodies, but no evidence,
except the, substance of what has already been related,
was adduced to throw any light on this mysterious
affair, and a verdict of " Found Drowned " was re-
c,rded. Roy, who was one of the band of the York-
shire Hussars, was ai fine looking man, about twenty-
seven years of age, and by trade a cabinet-maker. The ill-
fated young woman was about twenty-one, very prepos-
sessing in her appearance, and of unimpeachable charac-
ter; she was a mantua-maker. Her fate has excited the
deepest sympathy among all classes. The funerals took
place on Wednesday evening, and were attended by thou-
sands ; and the feeling- exhibited by the assembled crowd
was creditable to their humanity. One grave received
the remains of the two lovers. It is difficult to find even
the shadow of a reason for this act of desperation. Roy
was in liquor doubtless, and probably highly exasperated
at the supposed unkind treatment of the girl's father, in
urging him to go home; he had been drinking, too, for
the last three or four days, as it had been the annual feast
at Ripon, so that he had scarcely known what he did ;
and yet, from the house of Elizabeth's parents to the water
side is only about a mile. Elizabeth, whose fidelity was
worthy of a better fate, would not, it is supposed, see
him parish alone, and, in a momentary delirium,
plunged in after him. It may be remarked that the
parents of the young woman have been most un-
fortunate as regards some of their children, as three
of them, previous to this melancholy circumstance,
leave met an untimely death—by drowning and by fire.
The following particulars are furnished by a corres-
pondent :
" I have known Roy, from his childhood—his habits
have been very irregular for some time—and his indolence
has been such as to occasion sharp rebukes from his own
father ; he was fond of music, and of a romantic turn—
given to company, and of a high ungovernable temper,
which could not brook any opposition—his indolence and
expensive habits kept him poor, and he seemed dissatisfied
with himself and every thing about him. The poor
whom I also knew personally, was very respectab;e in her
situation—her fate has excited great commiseration. Some
think that she would never go into the water without
compulsion—and I did incline to that opinon ; when,
however, I was told how much she loved Roy, I came to
the conclusion, that, seeing him madly resolved on self-de-
struction, she chose to perish with him ! Near to the
place where they had gone into the river, stands a fine tree,
uuder which they had spent many hours, and the spot
being secluded and picturesque, it had been a favourite
resort of the parties. One of our constables, who as-
sisted in searching for the bodies, and who, indeed, was the
mar. that found Roy, told me that he saw Roy and his sweet-
heart sitting under this tree about two months since, and
coming up to them, he said jokingly, 4 Bossy, this'is a dan-
gerous place to be in with a faithless lover, the water is
close and very deep, take care he does not drown ye."
" P.S. I am told that old Meedley and Roy had some
very sharp words on the evening of the 18th, after the
dance. Roy mud his wish to marry Miss Meadley, but
her father repeatedly refused to give his consent, on the
gr unds that he could not support a wife and family.
This refusal the impetuous young man resented with me-
naces, and amongst other intemperate expressions he ex-
claimed You will repent this.' "—Leeds Mercury,.

On Tuesday last a covey of five brace and a
half of partridge; flew into the coach-house belonging to
the Wheatsheaf Inn, at Barkway. Mr. POCOCK, the
master of the inn, happening to be nigh, closed the doors,
and succeeded in capturing four brace, all alive, which he
fastened in a hamper, and sent to the lord of the manor.—
Cambridge Independent Press.

BOOTH THE TRAGEDIAN IN AMERICA.-
Boo Tit is not only an actor a'id proprietor of a very supe-
rior theatrical establishment, but devotes a considerable
portion of his time to agricultural pursuits; he is a farmer,
and takes his produce to market himself, The followinA
colloquy occurred between hint and GALLOT, who went
over with YATES'S eephallt to America :—" Boorn--
" These cabbages are three cents each ; if you don't
tike them throw them into the cart, and drive them
,ome again, for they're ‘rell worth the money. What
GALLor, is that you, lad? I'm delighted to see you, are
you quite well ?" GALLOT—Very well, I thank you ;
but this is a new mode of like to you." BOOTH—." Oh, I
have not left the old one ; come and see me to-night ;
play Richard at my own theatre ; and mind, when you
et to England, swear you never saw me play it half s,
GATA.OTT accepted the invitation, and deviate,
that he never saw Bovril to so much advantage.