Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-12-04
Ter,ibl, L. ageny N England.

Dr. Hermann Francks, u German of some
lebrty. killed his son. and then himself Mt Brgh-
ton, on the 81 inst. There was DIR. Franrks
among the refugees recently sent away from the
island Of Jersey, and it j. p"-sihl that this Is
the -ame person. The following is a narrative
of the tragedy:
BmGuroN My. 3-ConSidcrablc excitement
was caused in Brighton to-day, by rumor which
prevailed curly in the morning, and which prov
ed to be too true, that IA Pru,sian gentleman, OF
fortune and high literary reputation. had com
ntied suicide by jumping ont of three story
window oi the Royal Albion Hotel thereby sus
tanning almost instan, death, after having stran-
gled bis son, youth OF fifteen, IN the bedroom
whore they both had slept.
From inqairies, learn that Hermann
Francis, doctor of philosophy. at Berlin, ar
rived at the Albion, from Portsmouth, o.
cleck on Friday afternoon. with Hugo Edward,
his son. In lha course of the evening they were
called on by DIR. Juge. German refugee, re-
siding ut Brighton. an acquaintance of the fa'her
of forty y"ars'Standing. who remained with them
for some time. About II O'Clock the son retir
ed to rest; DIR. Juge having soon afterwards left
and then the fahcr followed the son. :he two
sleeping ina double hedded room. Nothing in
particular occurred during the evening to ex
cite DR.. JUICES observation with regard to the
mental condition of either father or son. The
father had suffered from dyspepsia during some
former visits to DIR. Jugr, at brighton 1t Is
now also known that he suffered from an enor-
nous goiire in the neck. The latter, however
he had always carefully conceaed;and on Friday
evening his health was in TAR better condition
than usual At q O'clock this morning the
hou~ekeeper, sleeping at the basrm mt of the
hotel. heard the crash of falling body against
the area ratings, and on looking cut saw the
father writhing in the area. An alarm was rails
ed, the attendance of DR.. Carter and Mr.. Bla-
kerr surgeon was INN, diately procured. but h'r
had ceased. The medical men then went up
stairs t. apprize the of the catastrophe. n d.
M answer being returned tn repeated knocking,
the door was forced, when the window WAS found
to ho open, and in the second bed was seen the
son, living apparently asleep, n silk scarf tied
round his neck and his countenance liyid. but he
was quite dead. though the warmth OF the body
bctokrned TINT death had only just ensued lie
had. apparently, been strangied and the MIR.
ence was that the father, having first deprived
the son of life, threw himself out of the window,
| and thus ended his earthly career.
Dr. Francks was IL native OF Bresau, in Sie
STA. where his father q banker Eight .en
| years ago he married. at Rome, the daughter {"
| Prince Henry. of PRUSSIA, who died ten years
ago. leaving only son. the younger subject o
! the tragedy in question. Having early ev'nce'
taste far the sea. he had been for some months
, past receiving n naval education in school a
! Portsmouth. and was about to goto sea for thu
! first time in Drcemher next, in one ut M"ssrS
! Greens vessels. DIR. Francis edited the Allgc
neinc Znitung. but Of late he had retired from
more active life. and was living on his proper
ty.
An inquest was held on tho bodies. The jury
| returned "a verdict That the son was t'unt
strangled in bed, but whether by his own hand
ar nv the hand of another, there was no ev
dcncr to show; and that the father destroyed
him self by throwing himself out of window
while in an uusound state of mind