Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-12-08
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY YIN ENGLAND

Dr. Hermann Fruncks, German of some
celebrity, killed his son. and then himself, at
Brighton, on the Sd inst. There was Dr.
Francks among the refugees recently sent
away from the island of Jersey, and it is pos
sble that this is the same person. The fol-
lowing is narrative Of the tragedy:
BRIGHTON, Nov. 3.-Considcrabe excite
meht was caused in Brighton to-day, by a
iumur which prevailed early in the morning,
aud which proved to be too true, that IA Prus-
sian gentleman, OF fortune aud high literary
reputation, had committed suicide by jumping
out oi three story window of the Royal
Albion Hotel, thereby sustaining almost in
stant death, after having strangled his son, IL
youth of fifteen, in the bedroom where they
both had slept.
From inquiries, we learn that Hermann
Francks, doctor of philosophy, at Berlin,
arrived at the Albion, from Portsmouth, ut
A o'clock, oil Friday afternoon, with Hugh
Edward, his son. IN the course Of the eve
ming they were called on by DIR. Juge, Ger
man refugee, residing at Brighton, an ac-
quaintance of the father Of forty years stand
ing, who remained with them for some time.
About | ! o'clock the son retired to rest Dr.
Juge having soon afterwards left, and then
the father followed the son, the two sleeping
in Il double-bedded room. Nothing in par.
ticular occurred during the evening to excite
Dr. JUICES observation with regard TO the
mental condition of either father or son.
The father had suffered from dyspepsia du.
ring some former visits To DR. Juge, at
Brighton. 1t is now also known that he
suffered from an enormous goitre in the neck.
The latter, however, he had always carefully
concealed and on Friday evening his heulth
was ia far better condition than usual. At
g O'clock this morning the housekeeper,
sleeping at the basement of the hotel, heard
the crash of Il falling body against the urea
ratings, and on looking out saw the father
writing in the area. An alarm was raised
the attendance of DIR. Garter and Mr.. Baker
surgeon, immediately procured, but life had
ceased. The medical men then went ur
stairs to apprize the sun of the catastrophe
and, no answer being returned TO repeated
knocking, the door was forced, when the
window was found to be open, and in the
second bed was seen the son, lying appa-
rently asleep, silk scarf tied round his
neck and his countenance livid but he was
quite dead, though the warmth Of the body
betokened that death had only just ensued
He had, apparently been strangled, and the
inference was that the father, having first
deprived the son of life, threw himself ont
Of the window, aud thus ended his earthly
Career.
DIR. Francks was native Of Breslau il
| Silesia, where his father was n banker
Eighteen years ago he married, at Rome
the daughter of Prince Henry, of Prussia
who died ten years ago, leaving an only sou
the younger subject OF the tragedy in ques
ton. Having early evinced a taste for tn,
sea, he had been for some months past re
ceivng naval education in u school a
Ports smouth, and was about to go to ses
for the first time in December next, in one
of Messrs. Green's vessels. Dr. Francki
edited the Allgemeine Zeitung, but Of lat,
he had retired from more active life, and Wa.
living on his property.
An inquest was held on the bodies. Th'
Jury returned verdict, "'rhat the son wa
found stran led in bed, but whether by hi
own hand, or by the hand OF another. Their
was no evidence TO show; aud that the faith
er destroyed himself by throwing himself on
Of . window while in an unsoupd state Q
mind"