The Blackpool Herald. — 1889-08-16 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

DETERMINED .SUICIDE IN A RAILWAY CARRIAGE.  A GHASTLY DISCOVERY.  THE BODY IDENTIFIED.  When the 5-5 p.m. passenger train from Fleetwood arrived at Poulton on Wednesday afternoon, a porter named Kilbarne, on opening the door of a. ilrst•olass compartment, was horrified to see a man's head partially fall out. The man was lying on his back on the floor of the carriage, and his face and neck were noticed to be covered with blood. Kilbarne closed the door, and informed the station • master, Mr. Beech, of what he had discovered. Mr. Beech, with commendable presence of mind, at once despatched one of his staff for Dr. Anderson, who was quickly on the spot, pron ..mcing life to be extinct. Another messenger having meanwhile been sent for a police-constable, P.S. Baines was promptly in attendance. Upon examination it was found that the man had shot himself in the right. temple, with a 22 calibre Colt pistol. The revolver lay by his side, on the floor, three chambers of which were loaded, while two were empty. In the opinion of the doctor, the mad must have killed himself immediately after the train left Fleetwood. Death must have been instantaneous, and his brains were scattered about the carriage. Deceased was of slight build, youthful appearance, and about sft. 7in. in height. He evidently lately came from Liverpool, or belongs to that city, as in his hat, which was a brown one, the name of Lilly and Adinsell and Co., 63 and 65. Lord-street, Liverpool, was stamped. He was dressed as follows :—Buttoned boots, dark blue worsted socks, merino drawers, white shirt, cutaway collar, small black tie, light striped trousers and vest, black morning coat and blue pilot jacket, with velvet collar. His trousers bore the name of " Kino, Church-street, Liverpool." On his pockets being searched, a sixpence and penknife, on which were the words " Shaw Bros., Bold-street, Liverpool," was found, also two commercial cable receipts, numbered 17.745 and 17,746, for messages sent to New York, and dated August 9th, F 3, Exchange Buildings, Liverpool. for 4s. and 13s. respectively. A printed card was also discovered in one of the pockets, and bore the following, "James Healey, dealer in all kinds of Flint Glass, Wine Glasses, Tumblers, Chimneys, Gas Moons, &c., 31, Taber-street, Liverpool." Two handkerchiefs were in his breast pocket; a gentleman's bearing the initials " H.K.': and a lady's the letter "B." No railway ticket, watch, or anything that could lead to direct identification was found. The deceased had dark brown hair and a very slight dark moustache. The body was at once removed to the Royal Oak Hotel to await the inquest, which will be held at 3-45 p.m. to-day (Friday). Inspector Learning, of Fleetwood, arrived shortly afterwards, and at once sent off a description of the body to Inspector Stafford, Kirkham, for circulation. None of the passengers in the train heard the report of the pistol, but it has since been ascertained that someone heard a shot before the train reached the dock crossing at Fleetwood.  Yesterday morning, Inspector Stafford received from Detective-Superintendent Williams, of the Liverpool City Police force, the following descriptions of a man " wanted ": " Absconded on the 12th inst.. and now charged on a warrant with stealing £6O, the moneys belonging to his employers, Hy. Knox, 24 years of age, sft. 2in. in height, slender build, full features, swarthy complexion, blue eyes, brown hair parted at side, high forehead, no whiskers, slight brown moustache, smart appearance, dressed in a dark cloth moque coat, light coloured trousers, hard brown felt hat, stand-up collar, turned down at point, wears a steel albert chain, frequents betting clubs and billiard-rooms. Please cause every possible inquiry at hotels, billiard-rooms, betting clubs, shipping offices, and other likely places, and, if found,arrest and wire to George Williams, Chief Superintendent." Inspector Stafford at once concluded that the man found in the railway carriage answered the description given, and he immediately communicated with the Liverpool Police, and asked them to send someone over for the purpose of identification. It was believed that the initials on the pocket handkerchief represented "Harry Knox," an assumption which was afterwards verified.  On reading the description of deceased which appeared in yesterday morning's papers, Edward Knox, sawyer, of 68, Hall-street, Windsor, Liverpool, concluded that it was his son, Harry Knox, who five or six days ago embezzled the sum of £6O belonging to his master, for whom he acted as clerk. After doing this he disappeared, and had not been heard of since. The father, accompanied by his daughter, at once journeyed to Poulton, where he arrived soon after two o'clock yesterday afternoon. He proceeded to the Royal Oak Hotel, and there found that his apprehensions were only too well founded. Mr. Knox stated that he was totally ignorant as to•the thereabouts of his son after leaving Liverpool, and how he has got through such a large sum of money in so comparatively brief a period is a mystery. We under. stand that the interment will take place at Poulton, probably to-morrow (Saturday). It was thought at first that deceased was the Arran murderer, but this surmise is now proved to have been groundless.