The Sun. — 1862-04-21 (London, England)

FRIDAY.  The prisoner was brought up to receive sentence. He was in a much more composed state than on the previous day, and listened respectfully and in silence while Lord Neaves, in a feeling address, pronounced the judgment of the court, that he be sent to penal servitude for five years.  711 E 'SUICIDE IA 1 _BLACKBEATII  Tri  ' lOn Saturday afternoon last Mr. C. J. Carttar, coroner for West Kent, held an inquiry at the Freemasons' Tavern, Woolwich, into the circumstances attending the death of Mr. Henry Goodwin Missing, a draper, for many years residing at Tranquil. vale, Blackheath, who committed suicide on Wednesday last by shooting himself, in a third class carriage, while passing through the Blackheath tunnell on the North Kent Railway. The following witnesses were examined : Mr. F. Wade, of 208, Old-street, St. Luke's, deposed—On the previous Wednesday he was a passenger in the same carriage with the deceased, by the down train, which left London-bridge at noon. When the train arrived about half way through the Blackheath tunnel witness heard a loud report, but as it was quite lark, he had no idea of what had happened until the train emerged from the tunnel, when himself and the other passengers were hurl. fled to find the deceased reclining on the seat with a frightful wound in his head, end holding a small pistol in his right hand. On arriving at Woolwich Dockyard station thedeceased, who was then living, was removed and attended by several surgeons, but he expired about three o'clock. This evidence having been corroborated by other passengers who were in the same carriage, Mr. Johnson Brook, of Blackheath, deposed—On the morning of Wednesday last he accompanied the deceased, with whom he was on intimate terms, from Blackheath to London by railway. They conversed on business affairs, and the deceased appeared to be much depressed in spirits respecting the manner in which he had been treated by some wholesale firms in the City. Mr. John Benjamin, brother-in-law to the deceased, deposed—He is a musicseller, residing at Birmingham. The deceased had for many years ' carried on business at Blackheath, as agent for the firm of Hailing, Pearce, and Stone, of Oxford-street. About three weeks since he received a letter from the deceased, stating that the firm named had taken away their stock, tut that he hoped to wade through his difficulties, as several friends had promised to receiving cheque raise him £5O each to recommence business. Witthis, immediately forwarded for £5O, and also a letter of a oncheering nature, with a view to raise his lin s deceased a  spirits. A letter found on the person of the deceased, and which was directed to the last witness, and stamped ready for , Was then handed in and opened, when found to contain a cheque for the £5O advanced, with the following statement I send you back this to use fur yourself. If anything it was pc s ta g e shouldhldnme, I should like Rose and the you in some cheap house. Good bye till wo meet in a better world." From other evidence it appeared that at the soliechildren happent olive t nto r  citation of the deceased Messrs. Halling, Pearce, and Stone had consented to advance him a loan of £4OO to recommence business, and a letter was found in the of the deceased from Mr. Chapple, attorney, of Great Carter-lane, Doctors' Commons, to the following effect :—" There has been some little delay about the £4OO, but I have no doubt that it will be obtained within a fortnight." Mr. Henry Tolkien, pianoforte maker, of King William-street, London-bridge, deposed—He is brother-in-law to the deceased, whose shop had recently been closed, and who had been deceived at the last moment by a person who had engaged to enter into partnership with him. This and other business _matters had recently much affected his mind.  Several letters found in the pocket-book of the deceased were then read by the coroner, one being adelressed to Messrs. Hailing, Pearce, and Stone, thanking them for their noble conduct, but concluding with the statement, " My brain wastes so that I shall be in an asylum, or with my God, tomorrow."  The coroner having recapitulated and remarked upon the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity.