The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1868-05-09 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE.  An inquest was opened on Satnnlay afternoon at Sherburn, near Durham, on the bodies of two mem• hers of the Durham County Constabulary, the horrible circumstances in connection with whose deaths have given rise to a vast amount of painful interest in the county. The names of the men are John Cruickshank and David Paton, the former thirty-one, the latter thirty years of age. On Friday evening, about half-past six. Cruickshank was murdered in the most deliberate and cold-blooded manner by Paton, who at the same Owe took his own life. To ascertain the circumstances conneeted with this bloody tragedy an inquest was held before Mr. Maynard at the place ',Uwe stated. The jury having viewed the bodies of Paton and Cruickshank, the former lying at his own home, the latter in the 1n:1.1k-house where he had sought refuge, the following particulars were elicited :  On Friday afternoon the deceased men had been in Durham on business of an unpleasant character. Paton, it appeared, had been reported to the chief constable for some alleged irregularities of conduct, the witness against him being Cruickshank. The charge was dismissed, but before the men quitted the presence of the chief constable Cruickshank volunteered a statement to the effect that Paton ball been dismissed Dom a constabulary force in Scotland. l'aton, on being questioned, admitted this to he true, and the chief constable had no alternative but to cancel his appointment, with an order that he should send in his clothes OH the following day. About live o'clock on Friday evening Cruickshank left Durham in company with Police-constable Mackay to go tim Pitting.ton, where he resided. On their any these two men called at the house of a brother officer, and, as they were leaning to prosecute their Journey, Paton came up from Durham and joined them. The trio, pro weeded along the road; but, it appeared, not a syllable was breathed by one of them as to what had been said and done in the chief constable's office; on the contrary, judging from their demeanour and conversation to each other, Paton and Cruickshank seemed to be On the best if terms and in the best possible humour. Cruickshank, on preparing to go home by a coal Hoe branching from the road on which they were , travelling, was desired by Paton to proceed with him to sherburn, as he had an 'lnformation" to give him. Cruickshank consented, and on arriving at Pettingtom, Paton went into his house, and Cruickshank stood waiting his return I with " the information" In front of a public-honer about 100 yards distant from Piston's dwelling. In a moment the latter was seen to emerge from his own doorway, having sontsthing cuitcealesi bchind his back. Ito walked across the  street to where Paton was standing, and when about half. way preffenf,ed a sin-chambered revolver, fully charged and capped, seeing winch, Cruickshank ran into the public-house just in time to escape the effects of the first discharge. Paton, however, followed him into the hill, fired two other shots at him, and Cruickshank dropped a dead man. Paton then walked to the front of the public-hethe, and, In the most cool summer, /mil without uttering a word, placed the barrel of the revolver behind his left Co and fired the contents into Ins head. He was removed home awl died in the course of two tiara, not having breathed a word to those an emit him: indeed, he was almost unconscious.  , The occurrence was witnessed by several persona, including police-constable Mackay, who had gone into Paton's house Just as he was leaving; Ind tho quickness with which the deed, was effected—in less than a couple of minutve—pre• vented tne Illttlitball.lG Of 411., It is not true that Paton hail an "information " to give to Cruickshank, and it is evident. therefore, that Paton hail for solute time before its occurrence conteniplated the horrible crime.  I One of the witnesses called was Mrs. Jesse Paton, widow if the murderer, and she stated that for some time past her husband had Ccii mush depressed iii his mind ; that us hisses he would laugh and cry immoikrately that he would cony razors about with him ; that he hail lately taken to wilting sermons; and that lie hail stated that lithe perse cations to wiiish siihjeot. continued Is would commit suicide. His language, his demeanour, his acts had been such as to lead her to suppose that he would do self violence. Mrs. Paton also stated that her deceased has. l•and received an injury to his head from the kick of a horse, site mining ad a In India. Ile had been about two years iii the fOrt.C, anti W.UI wrually tetlivctaut ari an able, courteous, and intelligoit officer. Ile had previously served in the Haddingtonshire Scotland force. The revolver he brim Vkslit with Min from. India, where served. several years. lie la very rsape,tal.ly connected. Cruickshank was a ScolCinnail, alid Was b‘illialy a private in the Edinburgh police-force. Paton and Cruiekihank each leave a widow and a family.  The jury found a verdict of "Wilful Murder" 4,,ainet Paton, who they also found had taken hie own life, but there um not sulticie:ut evidence as to the .tate of his mind.