Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1868-04-09 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

GREAT FIRE AT BOLTON, £70,000 DAMAGE. ......On Thursday afternoon last, one of the most rapid and destructive fires that has ever occurred at Bolton took place at the Gilnow New Mills, belonging to Messrs. Arorwamith and Sons. The works consist of a fine group of buildings, and include a cotton-spinning mill, card room, shad, besides warehousing, engine room, offices, &c The spineing mill was 162 feet in length, 120 ft. in width, and five storeys in height. The fire was first discovered in the No. 4 room, or top storey but one. The hands had returned from dinner to work at two o'clock, and about three o'clock, in the middle of the room indicated, a tin roller shaft became heated, and struck fire. Almost immediately, all the cotton in the spinning-frame was ignited. The flames spread with terrific rapidity, and, in the utmost consternation, the hands fled to the staircase. In less than ten minutes the fire had gained such proportions as to have burst Into the top room, and through the roof, and within half:an-hour from the discovery or the fire the whole five storeys had tumbled to the ground. The conflagration was most intense. The spinning room, carding room, and shed are all entirely destroyed. Tim fire brigades were on the spot as speedily as possible, but their services were of no avail. The damage is estimated at £70,000, which is covered by insurance. THE SUICIDE OF A MEDICAL STUDENT IN LREDR —Oa Friday the borough coroner held an inquiry relative to the death of Mr W. Ruddock, aged twentytwo, son of Mr Ruddock, surgeon, South Brook-street, Hunslet-lane, who had committed suicide at his father's house, on Wednesday, by taking laudanum. For some weeks past the deceased bad drunk heavily, and had frequently remarked that he wished he was dead. He had kept the company of theatricals, and had expressed a strong desire to become an actor. He had been in the habit of drinking laudanum as a stimulant, but he knew its effects perfectly well. Since the recent suicide of Mr Hall, a law student, he had conversed a great deal about it, and had remarked that the same fate would betel him. On Tuesday night he was at several public. houses and went hews intoxicated. Next morning, at an early hour, be was found lying On the hearth-rug in the sitting-room, apparently in a dying state. Mr Land, surgeon, who had been called in to the deceased, deposed that he found him suffering from the effects of laudanum. The usual remedies were applied, but he never recovered, and died in the afternoon. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased had destroyed himself while labouring under temporary insanity, produced by excessive drinking. MURDER OF A SON, AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF THR FdTHlß.—About two o'clock on Friday morning the police of Liverpool received information that a working man named John Malian, who lived in Bond. street, had just murdered his son, three years of age, and attempted to destroy himself. Mallao's wife had recently been confined, and her husband and the child in question occupied a bed in the room in which she was lying. About two o'clock she was awoke by hearing Malian calling out, "I've done it, I've done it." His wife inquired what he meant, and was horrified on being told that he had killed the child. After this he got up, dressed himself, and with the utmost coolness took a razor and cut his own throat. Mrs Mallan's screams were heard by the neighbours, who rushed into the house accompanied by two policemen. The murderer was speedily secured, taken to a surgeon,. had his wounds dressed, and was then locked up. It was found that he had ',mod %h poor boy by grasping his neck with both hands until he was strangled. on charged with the murder, he said, " I did it with my own hands. I don't know what came over me. The  Devil must have bid me do it." An inquest was held on the body of the child on Friday afternoon, when the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Mahan.