The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1882-01-07 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

IHE DEWSBURY CHRONICLE, SATURDAY, JAN UAR.L 7, 1882.  SHOCKING SUICIDE AT SCAR BOROUGH. STRANGE LETTERS.  At an early Lour on Monday morniug the inhabibants of Falograve, Searborongh, were thrown into a state of great excitement by hearieg that a young man, named Richard Hewitson, son of Mr. Hewiteon, of 9, West Park-terrace, Falegrave, had committed suicide. During Sunday evening the unfortunate young men left home, and about 10 o'clock some of the inmates of the house going into hie b3droom, found a card there, which stated that they were to look in a certain place, where they would find a note. A search was instituted, which led to the finding of a letter. This, in a rather rambling way, referred to something about a young lady for whom he had great admiration, but who had spoken dieparagingly of him to another person, and, it is snettosed, drew an unfavourable compaii3on between him and some one else. It also slated that after he had gone certain episodes would be renacnabtred by the young lady. Deceased requested that the letter shonld be banded over to the young lady in question. Shortly before one o'clock on Sunday morning, Polia-constable Walker, who was on duty in the neighbourteod of , West Park Terrace, was informed that young Hewitson was missing, and that his friends were uneasy respecting his abrence. Instrections were quickly given to the police on ditty to keep a sharp look out, and a vigorou3 search was immediately commenced. A short time alter, Police-constable Walker, in company with William Cross, gardener to Mr. Howiteon, and others, on walking up a' garden behind Lady Sitwell's Home, saw something on the ground, and on going no it waa found to be the dead body of the tnis=ing youth. He was lying on his right side, with his right haul extended on the grouud, and hi 3 left hand across his body. Near the body was a single. barrelled gun, which presented the appearance of having been recently fired ; the trigger wae at halfcock, but this is accounted for by the supposition that it had sprung back by the gun coming violently in contact with the ground. Oa lifting deceased up a ramrod was found teneath him. An examination showed that deceased had been shot through the heart by an ordinary shot corn. No pewder or shot was found in the pe,cleete of his clothing. Dr. Ivor Murray was SETA for, but, of course, his services were of no avail. On Tuesday evening an inquest woo held at Scarborough on the body of Alfred Hewitson. A brother of the decessed, deposed to the deceased having been miesed from home on Sunday night, anti on looking far him he (witness) went into the deceased's bedroom, where he found the following letters :—" ! somebody thank -- for me for all kindness to me. He is a noble boy. He has denied Limeelf a great deal of pleasure to try and get me out so that by means of fresh air and exercise I might get well and strong. Verily, I eay he shall not lore his reward, and now good bye all. I hope to meet you all again in heaven." "Read this. let Jan., 1882, Saareorongh Oh ! somebo-iy give this to —. My spirit will not rest if this is not given to her.—Dear -- I have put an end to myself, because I know that you have ceased to love me—yes, I, who love you more than words can expres4. I would have been burnt alive to have saved your life. I have heard what you_ have eaid about me. It has broken my heart, my darling girl, but all you have said against me is forgiven you by me. I have never seicl anything against yon ; 1 would not for all the money in the world. I have had a beautiful dream of you. I dreamt thathad you on nay knee in a loarely 1403, atid on Wee itiitge.6o Lev itub you loved me. lam sorry I could not chat to you much. It was because I have been very much out of health the last six or seven years. Sometimes I could zeireely speak, bat when I had not pent I was very talkative. I hope teat dream will como true ; in fact. I know it will ; and I know that I shall never forget that beautifel face that I love, and that I used to love to Melo My heart burns to see you. I should like to have bidden you a last farewell before I died. I came out on Saturday, the 31st D3etniaber, to see you if I • could find you. B 3 a good girl, my darling! Oh ! Low I long as I write that could throw my arms round your sweet neck and give you a last kiss. I know that God intends you and Ito be maerird cometime. Give my love to your sister, and to Miss--, I know that if I had lived I should have been made moat miserable by the cutting thought that you bed forsaken me. I should like my family to give you a present to keep in remembrance of Richard Hewitcon, who loved you next to God, and I ask one request of you—it is that you will give your photo to my mother to keep in her large album with the photographs of my family. Oh! I tell you the most happy time in my lif a was that night I tool: you for a walk by yourself. I shall never forget the kiss you gave me when we parted. Oh ! you toyed me then. I wish I could be your guardian angel.—l remain, your true lover, (Signed) Richard rfewiteon." Police-constable Walker deprseed to finding the body of deceased in a garden, near to his (deceased's) residence, and close to him was lying a gun, which had been cliechargeci. Deceased was quite dead.—Mrs. 110Witeon, mother of the deceased, gave evidence showing that since the age of 10 deceased had been subject at intervals to 3pitep ic fits, and sines that ale she had noticed that there was a want of mental balance. He was very absent-minded, and after the fits he bad very desponding thoutslite about religion, thinking he would be lost.—Dr. Ivor Murray deposed to being called to sec the deceased, and finding that he had been shot in the heart by a gunshot, from which death would instantaneously mein... From his erevicue knowledge of the deceased, ha should say that deceased had been seizul ndth a e adders attack of suicidal mania, during which he shot himself.—A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical tee, timony.