The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1884-05-30 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE OF THE DEAN OF BANGOR.  The Dean of Bangor, who he. been on • visit to hie brother, the Rev. W. Edward., vicar of Ruabon, near Wrexham, committed egioide on Saturday. About air o'clock in the morning the dean ewe discovered hanging in hie bedroom, land it I. supposed that the not had been committed about two hours pre•ionsly. Some time ago the dean had • very severe attack of rheumatic, fever, to which it wee feared hs would succumb. Sinoo hie partial recovery the very rev. gentleman had been mill •ct to mental depresai. and,nervousness. During the early part of the prsent year he took a month'. crui. in the Mediterranean, on the advice of hie medical attendant., but had ni been able to resume his labour. Until his recent illness he wee • very active preacher, and was very popular in all parts f the Principality, being cos eidered one of the most eloquent epeakers co:l.del with the Welsh Church. Since the long and severe attack of typhoid and brain fever, the late Dean of Bangor had been subject to extreme depression of mind and to paroxysms of mental grief and religious mania, when he would meek seclusion, and stamp about the floor in helpless agony. It was his custom to spend an hour alone upon hie knee. every morning it his private room, and of late he had frequently expressed how utterly unworthy of hie calling he felt. He said that for some time be had never enteral the pulpit without spending three hones with Jeremy Taylor and the Bible, both of which books were found in his bedroom after death. On Friday he spent over two hours with the local chemist, rad strenuouely endeavoured to obtain poises, stating ha wee in great tronble and would never get well. Wiles refused one poison he uked for another, and wee with difficulty prevented procuring any. Durine Friday he told his brother, the Rev. W. Edwards, vicar .of Rriabon, that he had been tempted to commit suicide by hanging hinnelf in his room, and that he could 0 t live much longer. He was afterwards el, sely watched. On bidding good-night to hi, elec.., the. het pereon be addreseed, the dean turned him face said. es he gripped ner hand, and would not meet her gay ...Ha roes, early on Saturday morning, sad between eight and nine o'clock wed seen by one of the servants se leave his own room for an aojoining on, and to return h.tily. She aftsmardir heard him treading the room heavily, and she Piought it wee one of his old meetel maroeyems, so she did not raise an alarm. Shortly of ter...rd. the vicar entered the Indro,m with the dean's lettere, but, on ripening the door, !t,, aghast. The dean was standing in an upright poser, with one knee on the hed, and his head thrown back. A portmanteau strap was buckled round hi. neck, and wan attached tos the teeter rod at the back of the ic the dam apparently having violently strangled him. eelf. The body was immediately taken down, and Pr. Roberts, of Rusbon, arrived shortly sfterwards, lot said life had been extinct • quarter of an hour. An inquest on the body was opened at Rnabon Court-house on Monday morning, before Mr. B. R. Thalwall, the coroner. The Rev. E. %V. E heard., broiler of d.erieed, said the de. conselsin" . drum., of hi. mind giving way, and said he most Into an esaylum. He efts wards went to the Mediterranean, bet derived no benefit fmm the ,o7oge, and aimoe his return he had suffered grea!if from parogyeme of nervous depression, diving winch be lost all control over himself, and epent elecpl nights Medical testimony to the same effect boa. given, • verdict of 'Temporary insanity" st. retorued.