The Sun. — 1838-03-23 (London, England)

DREADFUL SUICIDE.—On Monday evening, between nine and ten o'clock, the inhabitants of Head-street, St. Mary-at-die-Walls, Colchester, were thrown into a state of consternation, Mr. George Baines, a respectable tailor and draper in that street, having committed suicide. He was in an extensive way of business, sod had recently engaged the premises at the corner of Church-street, upon the site of 11r. Marsden's extensive Bazaar, and had removed into his new occupation on the very day he put an end to his exietence. For the last few weeks deceased had been in a very desponding stile of mind front a nervous affection, and frequently expressed his apprehension that his new occupation would not answer his purpose, complaining that his affairs were greatly embarrassed, which, we understand, was far from being the fact. Early on Monday morning his brother, who slept with him, was awoke by a noise, arid found that deceased was out of bed and dressing himself ; he app!ared greatly excited, and in a short time made an effort to throw himself out of the window, but was with great difficulty prevented from so doing. About eight o'clock that morning it was found necessary that a strict watch should be kept over him, and a man was pro. cured for that purpose; Mr. Partridge, his musical attendant, advised his brother to get him into the new house as soon as possible, and that, he thought, might possibly alleviate his anxiety ; and Mr. Partridge, at his next visit, at twelve o'clock, found deceased in his new occupation, sitting by the fire, in his bed-room, with two friends. They entered into conversation with him relative to his anxiety about his new house, and told him if he wished to get rid of it, they would see the parties aed get him r ,leased from it. He replied, "It must be done to•day," Mr. Partridge asked him what he meant, and he answered, " I shall be hung." Mr. Partridge thin endeavoured to divert his mind bv,some jocular remarks, but without effect, and left him. He went to see him again about nine o'clock in the same evening, with Mr. Pattison, friend. On going into his room he found him very sullen, and advised the maid-servant to net him some tea. The man who had been with him was absent for a feW minutes, and on the servant returning with the tea, Mr. Partridge went down stair; and informed his brother how he was. Just as Mr. Partridge was entering the parlour below, he beard a violent knocking up stairs, and cries of " Murder I Come up, come up I" upon which he run up stairs, and found deceased kneeling on the bed, with his face towards the door, cutting the left side of his throat in a most determined manner. Mr. Partridge rushed round the bed to him, when deceased, placing himself in a menacing attitude, made a plunge at him, and Mr. Partridge rushed towards the door. Deceased then threw the knife at him ; it, however, happily escaped his head, and struck the wall with great force. The moment Mr. Partridge was out of the room, deceased shut the door and locked it. By this time the servant had so alarmed the neighbourhood by her shrieks, that a considerable number of persons were at the top of the stairs, when an iron bar was procured, and the door was broken open. Deceased was found lying upon the bed on his back, in the last stage of exhaustion, bleeding from a wound in the neck very profusely. An inquest was held on Tuesday, when the jury returned a verdict " that deceased committed suicide by cutting his threat, while in a state of mental derangement."—Chelmsford Chronicle.