The Northern Guardian. — 1894-06-15 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE SEATON CAREW SUICIDE.  SCENE OVER A LOVE LETTER.  As briefly reported in our Extra Special Edition, last night, Coroner Settle held an inquest at the Seaton Hotel on the body of the young man Richard Lisle (19), who was reported to be missing from Seaton Carew last Thursday, and whose body was found on the fourth buoy, in the Tees, on Wednesday morning, by a woman named Jane Watson. The deceased, it will be remembered, was employed on the farm of Mr White, Seaton Carew. His parents live at Haverton Hill.  John White, farmer, Seaton Carew, was the first witness called, and said the deceased was his farm servant, and had been in his employ for seven months. The home of the deceased was at Haverton Hill, and he was a steady youth and clever in his service. He never had any occasion to find fault with the deceased's state of mind. He last saw him about the dinner hour on the 7th inst.  The Coroner: I urn told you found something. What was it? I found a watch and letter in the deceased's coat pocket. The coat was in the stable on the Bth inst. There was also a knife and 4s sd.  The property wa.e produced. Witness, continuing, said he telegraphed to the mother of the deceased to see whether he bad gone home, but the reply stated that he had not, and it was after this that he found the coat in the stable.  In reply to a juror, witness said he believed that if the deceased was " crossed " in any way he got excited.  Mark Golightly, labourer, Belle Vue, said he found a coat and cap belonging the deceased on Friday morning last, about 11 o'clock, on the sea end of the North Gare Breakwater. The tide was ebbing. He did not see the body. Thomas Lamb, Seaton Carew, said about 9.40 p.m. on the Bth inst he saw the decoascd near the Snook gate, walking in the direction of the shepherd's cottage, alone. . .  Jane Watson,- West Hartlepool, said she was going to shrimp on Wednesday morning, but when sha got over the slag wall at Seaton Carew she saw the body of the deceased on the other side. She then returned to Seaton Carew and notified P.C. Middlemas of what she had seen. The body was afterwards removed to Seaton Hotel.  P.C. Middlemas said the body of the deceased was removed to the place named by last witness. It appeared to have been in the water for some time, but there were no marks of violence upon it. He took the letter, to which reference had been made to the young lady to whom it was addressed. She Sid not seem to know the writing or to expect a letter. Witness opened the letter in her presence and read it aloud. He then handed it to her, and after she had looked at it he took possession of it again. The Coroner : I shall now enter the letter on the depositions. It begins : Dear —, I bid you good-bye." Councillor Vitty: Would it not be better to pass it around to the jury, sir? The Coroner: Now, sir, you'll only a visitor here, yeu know, and you must sot tell us what we all know. Councillor Vitty: Well, I only— The Coroner: Just let me alone, please. Councillor Vitty: Very well, sir. The Coroner: Where was it I got down to there? "I bid you good-bye." Councillor Vitty : Excuse me air, but I The Coroner: Come, my friend, you don't know anything about it. I have not been at this for 50 years without knowing something, you know. Councillor Vitty said in another case in the village the letter was not read aloud, and he thought they might go upon the same lines upon this occasion. _ -  The Coroner: What! I know nothing about that. A Juror: And that case has nothing to do with this.  The Coroner: Nothing at all, and, gentlemen, your minds must not be taken away from this inquiry. You will have to give your verdict not only in accordance with the evidence given, but in accordance with the views you have taken of the matter. I will commence again. "I bid you good-bye. I think nobody likes me." At this stage Councillor Vitty appealed to the foreman of the jury to do his best to prevail upon the Coroner to pass the letter around to the jurymen after copying, and instead of reading aloud. The Coroner: I am just doing what I believe to be right, sir. Councillor Vitty : Yes, sir, yes. I know what you do is always right, sir. The Coroner: Very well, then ; allow me, please. A Juror: The contents of the letter have really been in the papers. The Coroner: I daresay. Several Jurots : Oh, yes. The Coroner: I'll start again, and please allow me to finish. I can't keep going on like this, you know. _ _  The Coroner then read as follows : Dear —, I have to bid you good-bye. I think nobody likes me. It is more than I can stand, being parted like this. You will find my body over the Slag Wall. So good-bye, all friends. lam not liked in this world. lam your true lover,