Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1893-03-18 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.  On Tuesday an inquest was held at St. Bartholomew's Hospital as to the de tth of Annie Wright, aged 38, lately living in Central-street, St. Luke's. —George Mason gave evidence of identification, and said he had been living with her during the past eight years. She worked at a laundry. On Thurs. day,during the dinner hour, he met her and treated her to some refreshment in a public-house. She then left him to go back to work. They had no quarrel on parting, and he had lived on good terms with the woman. Later on in the day witness learned that she had attempted suicide, and was at the hospital.—By the Coroner: She had been on the drink for ov r seven weeks, and had pawned his shirts and the bedclothes to procure drink.— Catherine Pearson, wife of an engineer, said she rented the house at above address. About 3 o'clock on Thursday afternoon deceased asked witness to tell anyone who called for her that she was out. Three hours later witness heard a loud noise as if someone had fallen, followed by groans. She ran upstairs, and found deceased rolling about the floor. Her room was full of smoke, and witness said, -What have you done? You have set the place on tire." She replied, "No, it's gunpowder; I bought a halfpennyworth of gunpowder, placed it in my mouth, and set it on fire." Shortly afterwards she remarked, "1 did it myself; I want to die." Then witness added that she noticed the deceased had been drinking when she came home.—Policecontable 107 ti said when he arrived at the house it was full of smoke, and there was a strong smell of gunpowder. She told him that "She was very unhappy, and wanted to die." He at once took her on the ambulance to the hospital.—Dr. Murrell, house surgeon, said he saw the deceased on her admission. Blood was oozing from her mouth, and the tongue and the roof of her mouth were blackened. She die' at 6 o'clock the next morning from the injuries she had sustained to her mouth and throat.—The Coroner said it was the most singular suicide that had ever come under his notice.—The jury returned a verdict of suicide during temporary insanity.  MR. SPENCER BALFOUR'S BANKRUPTCY At the London Court of Bankruptcy, on Tuesday, the first meeting of creditors was held under the failure of Jabez Spencer Balfcur, ex-M.P. The Senior Official Receiver, Mr. George Wreford, reported as follows: The receiving order was made on January 10th, upon the petition of the provisional liquidator of the London and G.neral Bank (Limited), and on January 16th the debtor warn adjudged bankrupt on the ground that he had absconded. In the absence of the bankrupt the Official Receiver has collected the facts set forth in this report, but lie desires to acknowledge the readiness with which Mr. James Balfour, the bankrupt's son, and Miss Bishop, who was left in charge of Burcoc, responded to his request for information. Before leavi, g the courery the bankrupt executed a power of attorney to Miss Bishop, and she has rendered an account to the Official Receiver shewing that between December 29:1), 1892, and January sth, 1893, she received sums amounting to £335 158., out of which she is stated to have expended about £290. On December 11th, shortly before the bankrupt absconded, he sold to Miss Bishop for £250 the equity of redemption on a small property at Burcot, known as "Th.: Close," and as to £2OO in bank notes forming part of the purchase money the Official Receiver is advised that the payment of the same by the bankrupt to a Miss Freeman, who was formerly in his employment, on account of a debt of £3OO, is in the nature of an undue preference. With reference to certain goods removed by Miss Bishop from durcot, she stated that she took them with Mr. Balfour's authority, but has since expressed her willingness to pay for the same at the value set upon them by the Official Receiver's auctioneer. It appears from an examination of the bankrupt's papers that between October, 1886, and July, 1890, he acquired by purchase from various persons the property known as the Burcot estate, comprising nearly 1.000 acres of land, at a total cost of upwards of £48,000. Since the purchase he appears to have expended about £5,000 in buildieg new cottages and effecting other improvements, and has also laid out about £2,000 in the installation of electric light at Burcot. The Burcot properties are mortgaged for £25.400. Notice had been given to call in the mortgage, and it was anticipated there would be a surplus of £13,000 or £15,000. The debtor was also the owner of properties at Croydon, Tilbury, and Peterbozeugh, partly mortgaged. Other properties at Brighton, Derby, 'Famworth, Doncaster and else% here were settled in March. 1882, upon trustees for the benefit of the debtor's wife, who is of unsound mind The income has been devoted to Mrs. Balfour's maintenance, with a life interest to debtor, and upon their deaths to the two children. That interest is of no present value to the estate. The debtor had been interested in an electric lighting scheme in Italy, and with another person had advanced £lO,OOO secured upon the installations at Aguila and elsewhere in that country. The debtor having no available cash, the whole amount was advanced by time other parties. The Doncaster Gazette Printing and Publishing Company was promoted by the debtor, who has shares and debentures therein, some being deposited with the London and General Bank as security for his overdraft. The debtor, in connection with another gentleman, purchased land in the United States,borrowing £17,000 for the purpose. In April, 1890, the debtor borrowed £17,350, of which he paid off £3,200 and secured the balance by shares. It is not known for what purpose the loan was required. A sum of £97 drawn by debtor from his Croydon bank was used by the son—James Balfour—in payment of a judgment upon a dishonoured cheque for the like amount. Un4er all the circumstances of the case the Official Receiver is unable to ascertain the amount of ranking liabilities or probable assets,but states that he has realised a sum of £4,223,0f which 17 guineas is the amount of subscriptions returned by the various clubs of which the debtor was a member. Proofs lodged by creditors amounted to about £12,000, £lO.OOO of which were represented I.v Mr. Stewart, Official Liquidator. Mr. F. Winney was nominated as trustee, but as 'qr. Stewart considers the case ought to be left in 'tie hands of the Official Receiver, that course was adopted.  the report of the probable surrender of Mr. Spencer Balfour, to which we (WestmUuter Gazette) gave currency on Saturday, now finds confirmation in a statement circulating in well-informed quarters that the Foreign Office is negotiating for his arrest in America.  AN