The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-27 00:00:00

SUICIDE IN A- RAILWAY CARRIAGE.

On Friday afternoon last c case of suicide occurred at
the Wye station on the Ramsgate branch of the South-
Eastern Railway. The fast train from London to Rams-
gate, which leaves the former place at 12.45, arrives at
Wye at 2.49. Just as the train was moving out of
the station, Mr. Belham, one of the foremen on the
permanent way, saw a gentleman sitting alone in a
compartment of a first-class carriage, and a stream of
blood was spouting from his head. He immediately
caused the train to be stopped, and the carriage was
detached from it. The gentleman was found to have a
new Tranter breech-loading pistol tightly clenched in both
hands, and it was evident that he had but a few minutes
before placed the muzzle to his forehead and shot himself.
He was still alive, although bleeding copiously from the
wound. He was carried to the Victoria Inn, and in a few
minutes two medical gentlemen arrived, but they could
not do anything for him, and he expired about seven
o'clock, without having recovered consciousness. The de-
ceased was about sft. 10in. high. He had a number of his
own photographs in his pockets ; also a certificate denoting
that " G. A. Appleton, Esq.," had been admitted a mem-
ber of the Royal Academy. The deceased's pocket-book
was filled with lead-pencil sketches of figures and
scenes, some of a grotesque character, but all indicating
artistic talent. On one leaf of the pocket-book was
written "G. A. Appleton, Tavistock Hotel, Covent
Garden," and on another " G. A. Appleton, born at Hornsey,
London, 182 G." The pocket-book contained memoranda
sheaving that the deceased left Melbourne in the latter
part of last April in the ship Highflyer, and that he had
had a capital passage, and had visited the exhibition of
the Royal Academy since his arrival, and a letter from a
friend in Australia, directed to " G. A. Appleton, Esq.,
Tavistock Hotel, Covent Garden." On a copy of Punch
found in the railway carriage was written, " Coroner's
verdict—Found dead, with Punch." There was also some
writing, evidently pencilled while the train was in motion,
and addressed to a gentleman in Cripplegate, London,
whom he desired to take possession of his things at the
Tavistock Hotel; and he added that he was afraid " his
comforter"- was somewhat too small in the bore for his
purpose, and that he had better have purchased " one
of the muzzle-loading fraternity," but that he had
sacrificed to appearances. He was well dressed, had
a gold watch and chain, and a scarf pin, a
first-class ticket to Ramsgate, and lls. 3d. in money.
At the inquest on Saturday evening a gentleman named
James, residing in Nichol-square, Cripplegate, identified
the deceased as an artist who had arrived from Australia
on the previous Saturday. Mr. James stated that he knew
nothing of the deceased except through a letter of intro-
duction which lie brought from his (Mr. James's) brother,
who resides in Melbourne. The last time Mr. James saw
the deceased was on Thursday evening, and he was then
remarkably quiet in 1114 manner; although he could not be
said to be melancholy. The jury returned a verdict of
temporary insanity.