The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-25
EARL sHAFrEsBuRy.s SUICIDE.
How q Nobleman Ended His Life in a Lo,
l. ION Glah

How q Nobleman Ended His Life in a Lon
don Cab.
London Standard. April ID
The Earl of Shaftesbury committed suicide in
London, yesterday afternoon, by shooting him
self with a revolver while riding in q cab in
Regent street He engaged a cab in the upper
part of Regent street shortly after o'clock,
and directed the cabman to drive down the
street. The driver did So and on reaching the
lower end of the street was told by the
Earl to return. This the man did. and when
the upper end of the street was reached
his lordship again directed the cab to be turned
round This was done several times, and when
the cab was near Oxford street, about 430
o'clock, the driver heard shot. He jumped
down, and the Earl, who was unknown to him,
sad ''It's all right, cabman; drive onF' The
man replied: Yes, / know it's all right; but
what is this9' pointing to bullet hole in the
front part of the cab, near the glass panel on
the left side. and adding: But | value my life
too much to drive on" He was, however.
about to mount the box again. when second re-
port was heard, and this time the unfortunate
man shot himself in the left temple. At this
moment policeman. who had heard the first re-
port came up and told the cabmen to drive to
the Middlesex HOSPITAL Crowd gathered
around the vehicle, but the Earl was not recog-
nized until the hospital was reached few min
utes afterward. There the policeman and the
driver of the cab carried the Earl. who was still
alive, into the in-patients' ward, and summoned
the assistance of the house-surgeon, Dr. Bart
lett; but Lord Shaftesbury was just breathing
his last and was beyond all surgical aid. the bull
let having penetrated the brain. An intimation
of the occurrence had been sent to the friends of
the Earl and in short time the Countess of
Shaftesbury arrived followed by his lordship's
butler. The weapon used was six-chambered
revolver The position of the first shot indicated
49, 80 l. a. III.
ton of the fatal wound showed that the second
shot was fired with a very deliberate AIM The
BODY was removed to the mortuary OF the hos
pital.
According to the statement of the cabman the
deceased engaged the vehicle at about 3:30
o'clock, at a spot nearly opposite York House
Stores in Waterloo place, Piccadilly Circus. No
one was with him. He appeared calm and col
lected. and carried an umbrella. He instructed
the man to drive up Regent street. Having pro-
ceeded as far as Langham Hotel, the driver
looked roAnd in order to ascertain where to put
up. Lord Shaftesbury beckoned with his hard
for the man to proceed When West ter
race had been reached his lordship told the
man to drive back again. On returning to
Regent street the deceased sked the driver how
much the fare each way would be and the latter
replied, Il do not know, SIR" The deceased
then said. Say one shilling each way" and the
cabman closed the bargain. The deceased re-
manned in the cab and was driven to York
House Stores. The cabman here descended and
asked his lordshp whether he would ike to ride
anywhere else. In reply the deceased expressed
desire to cross the park, but immedl .ly
altering his intention, he added, Never
mind; go M Regent street and I'll stop
you" The man drove to Oxford street,
where he looked around. but the deceased did
not take any notice He leaned back ia the cab
and rested his legs the front seat, with his
umbrella between his legs and his hands grasp
ing the umbrella. When they nearly OPP
posite the Polytechnic institution revolver was
fired inside the cab. The driver, jumping
down, said, Governor what are you mp
TOT" The deceased replied, "All right,
cabby, it's gone off in mistake" The man
thought otherwise, and said: 'Good mistake on
your part, Governor, If you happened to shoot
me-" whereupon Lord Shastesbury put in the re-
joiner: II didn't intend to shoot YOU" The
driver. intimated that he did not want "any of
those games in his cab, refused to take the de-
ceased any further and threatened to
call policeman The deceased then
said. Don't be go silly as that; drive
me on and will give You a 6ver," but
the driver replied II don't want any
of your flyers; your flyers won't satisfy my life.
The deceased then put the revolver aside, and a
police constable appeared on the scene at the
same time. Before. however, the officer hac
time to interfere, the deceased fired the second
shot
Lord Shaftesbury was born in June, 1881 and
sat in the House of Commons for Hull from 1857
to 1885, and for Cricklade from the latter year 20
1865 He married, in 1857, the only daughter Of
the Marquis of Donegal, and has left one SON,
born In 1859, and five daughters.