Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1876-07-22 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE IN A NORTH-EASTERN TRAIN.  A most extraordinary occurrence took place on Monday in a train on the North-Eastern Railway. On the arrival at Cowton of the train leaving York at 6,20, and due at Darlington at 8.24, a man was found in a third-class compartment lying on the seat in a strunge manner with his face downwards. Assistance was procured, and he was turned over, when he was found to be quite dead, and beneath him the guard found a six-chambered revolver with some of the chambers discharged. The man's breast was open, and on examination the mark of a bullet was found on his left Bide opposite the heart. From the fact that his breast was open, and even hie shirt torn away, it was surmised that the shot had been fired by himsdlt. This was farther borne out by the foliating strange circumstances. Some commercial travellers, on their way to Darlington, who were in neighbouring compartments, heard, when some stations distant from York. a sound like a pistol shot. Thinking it was the concussion of the lamp, or sonacthingiof that sort, no notice was taken of it. This, however, could not have been the fatal shot, as deceased was seen looking out of the window at Nortballerton. Soon after leaving Northallerton, however, another report was heard, and this, it is presumed, was the fatal shot, for on being taken out of the carriage at Cowton deceased was quite warm. Another circumstance which points to the conclusion of suicide is that a lady who travelled in the same compartment with deceased from King's Cress left the carriage at York on account of his strange behaviour. Deceased is a man apparently about 45 years of age, with fair complexion, fair hair, beard, and moustache. He was neatly dressed. He had a a third-class ticket from King's Cross to Newcastle, but as he was not ;searched pending the arrival of the authorities, nothing to lead to his identity trampir:d. . _  - Inquiries made on Tuesday reveal the fact that the passenger from King's Cross to Newcastle, who killed himself with a revolver, between Northallerton and Cowton Stations, on Monday evening, was named David James Neal. This has been ascertained from a pledge-card issu,cl by a Newcastle temperance society which was found in his possession, and from other circumstances. The revolver was a six. chambered one, and two shots had been fired. There is reason to believe that the first shot was fired between Thiisk and Northallerton from a noise that was heard, but this was probaLly to try the revolver. The fatal shot was heard soon after leaving Northallerton. A pocket book was discovered on him, on which was written, " My father's address is Dr Neill, 23, South Norton-place, Edinburgh." On another leaf he commenced a letter to his father, beginning "My dear father." The substance of the letter was that there was £3 in gold in his pocket, which would pay his father for his lodgings. The keys of his trunk were also in his pocket. His clothes would pay his funeral expense'. lie added, "You must forgive me for this ;" and intimated, in conclusion, that he killed himself on ac3ount of his young wife. It is thought that he had lately been residing in , Newcastle. The address at Edinburgh has been ' communicated with, and an answer has been received that some of his friends would arrive on Wednesday night. On Wednesday, an inquest was held at the Railway station, Cowton—before Mr Coroner Walton— on the body of David James Neill, who committed suicide in a railway carriage on the North-Eastern Railway, on Monday last. The inquest was adjourned till next Wednesday.  THE DARLINGTON SEWAGE INJurtmoti.—ln the High Court of Justice (Chancery Division) on Thursday, before Vice-Chancellor Hall, in the cane Attorney-General v. the Mayor and Corporation of Darlington, a motion was made for a further extension of time before the operation of tie injunction granted against the Corporation in March, 1875, to enable them to carry out certain town sewage works, in order to obviate the difficulty complained of by the relator. It was complained that there had been excessive dilitoriness in the carrying out of the Sewage Irrigation Scheme—The ViceChancellor : Since the matter was last before the Court, the defendants have taken a considerable step; but the defendants must understand that in the future there must be no delay in the purchase of the necessary land. Aftor some discussion, it was decided that the injunction ehoald be further suspended until the last motion day in Hilary sittiro.