Widnes Examiner. — 1902-01-10 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SUICIDE AT SIXTY-SIX.  Sad End of an Old Runcornian. Early on Tuesday morning the Runcorn public were horrified to learn that an old man, afamiliar figure in Runcorn streets, named James Garnett, better known as Jam rs flignett, Princess-street, had committed suicide in his bed room by tying his scarf round his neck and suspen ding himself from th bed rail. "Old James," as he was termed by the townsfolk had for some time been in declining health and for years had not followed his employment owing to sheer feebleness. For a long time. when Mr G Hszelhurst was organist, be used ta blow the organ at St. Paul's Chapel, but he had to give up his post owing to a similar reason. Owing to the generosity of a Mr Littler who kept him in board and lodging at the modest sum of 2s 3J per week he was saved the fate of going to the Workhouse. No reason can be ascribed for his act. The inglest was held on Wednesday before Mr R Dobson, coroner. P C Bowyer stated that on going to the house at 10 15 he found the deceased face downwards:between the beds. Tbescarf was tied round the deceased's neck in a running noose and was very tight. The bedrail was about three feet six inches from Us 4 floor. There was a quantity of blood oozing from the lungs. Witness had never known him to have been in depressed spirits though be was a very feeble and decrepit old man. A verdict was returned of suicide while in a state of temporary insanity.  Mr T BIRCHALt seconded the resolution, and said that perhaps be felt the loss they bad sustained more than most present, as the late Mr Crosfield was one of big earliest political comrades. More than 40 years ago they fought side by side, aad a truer man never fought for principle either in that or in any other borough. The Crosfields bad been a splendid family. He could remember three generations. Mr Joseph Crosfield (Mr John Crosfield's father) was then one of the few magistrates in the borough, and as a boy his (the speaker's) enthusiasm was aroused as he heard his father, one of Mr Crosfield's workmen, speak about " old Joe ": righting some wrong, a wrong that needed some strong man to come to the front, and Joseph Crosfield was never I wanting in that respect. Then there was Mr George Crosfield—eot more than a name to soma of them, but a man to whom Warrington owed great things. But for him he believed they would not have had that beailtiful Park in the centre of the town, as be gave thousands of pounds towards the purchase. And he also did his duty to the Liberal party of Warrington. Mr John Crosfield was a downright straight man—a man who always called a spade a spade. He would not have talked about ' • agricultural implements." He sometime gave offence, but he was loved by politics friends as well as by opponents. There was no twisting about with him. He was always there when wanted, and he had rendered yeoman service to the Liberal party. In the 1863 election he (the speaker) had the honour of being co-secretary with Mr Crosfield on Mr Peter Rylands' committee. They fought that election for five weeks, bolding a meeting every week, and it was very rarely that Mr Crosfield did not speak. Latterly Mr Crosfield's health Lisa not permitted him to take as active a part in Liberalism as he otherwise would have done, but it was not for waat of will, but want of power. It had been said they had lost most of their leaders. There was, however; one thing to be Said, and that was that the rank and file, who were the most important, were with them. It bad been said that The Vienna correspondent of the" Morning Leader'' the war in South Africa bad been a war of rank and file, writes :—The " Tagblatt " states that the name Cbam. and so must theirs be. and they must trust not so M uCh berlsin is becoming a common abusive term in Russia. to men of position. Perhaps they might yet see, as be In St. Petersburg a cabman, who was impeded in his had seen in other places, men who had risen from the d progress by a heavy dray in front of him shouted to the ranks who had been great political leaders, an who driver of the latter," You Chamberlain. why don't you had done service such as no Man could have sarpassed. get out of the way ?" The driver retorted indignatly, So be hoped it would he in Warrington, and that their . young men would put their shoulders ta the wheel and "You low fellow, leach you to call me such a name'  London College of Music. The following pupils of Mr E Wilkes, organist and choirmaster of St. Paul's Church, have successfully passed the examination of the above college. I Rose, Lovely-lane, senior section; William Pacy, Liverpool-road, Ist, class, junior section.