The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1869-12-25 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

SUDDEN DEATH.—An inquest was held at the Ship Inn, Tower-road, before W. Butler, Esq., on the 12th inst., on the body of John Nicholson, who died suddenly on the 10th inst. The particulars will be found in the following evidence :—Ann Nicholson, of Park Gate, Church Coniston, said: I knew the deceased. His name was John Nicholson. He was my husband's father. He was a labourer, and was 81 years of age at the time of his death. He lived in part of our house, and died yesterday morning. He had a room in which he lived and slept, did most of his own turns, and was in a good state of health until eight or nine weeks ago when he began to complain of his breast and bowels. When he got cold it made him cough a great deal. He was in the habit of going to bed about live or six o'clock in the evening for some weeks past, and went about that time on Wednesday evening week. About two o'clock yesterday morning I heard him coughing. and I got up to him because I thought that he was coughing harder than usual I asked him to have something, but he would not have anything, and wished me to go back. I was sleeping upstairs in my usual room but my husband was not at home. The deceased was down stairs. I was awake until four o'clock, but did not hear him cough again after I went to him at two o'clock. I got up about 8 o'clock, but as I did not hear him moving, I weut into his room and spoke to him, and as he did not answer I went to the bedside and found him dead. He generally got up a little while before me and my husband.—Mary Roberts, of Park Gate, said : lain a married woman, I live next door to the last witness' and knew the deceased. I saw him five ve o'clock on Wednesday last and he appeared to be in his usual health. The last witness called me into her house on Thursday the 16th in.st. a little before nine o'clock. She ins ..boaeaid she thouotlit deceaae,r, 'was dead. I went to her house and into deceased's room and on layng my hand on to deceased's forehead T forin4 j was cold. He "7^ on his back on the bed, with the clothes quite straight, and there was no sign of his having struggled.—Martha Wilson, of Outrake, near Park Gate, said: The last witness came fir rue a little before nine o'clock, and told me deceased was dead. I went to deceased's room and found him laying on his back with his hands upon his breast. The body was cold. I washed and dressed the body. There were no marks ; marks of violence upon it. Deceased was in I the habit of coming to our house, and he cora-1 plained of his breast frequently. A verdict in I accordance with the evidence was returned.  The Builder hears that the state of the Marquis of Westminster's statute in the New Park, Chester, has led to a communication with Mr. Thorneycroft from the legal adviser of the corporation upon the subject. The Christening of the infant daughter of the Prince ar.d Princess of Wales took place on Thursday. The Prince of Wales returns to Marlborough House on Wednesday from Sandringham. Her Majesty the Queen accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice, left Windsor Castle on Saturday morning for Osborne. Prince Christian Victor and Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein travelled with the Queen to Osborne.  Mr. Spurgeon is reported to be convalescent. A severe snowstorm is reported from the north. At Crathie, Braemar, Ballater, and Keith snow has fallen heavily. At Keith the telegraph wires were broken by the weight of snow. In the divorce suit of "Colonel Gordon v. Mrs. Gordon and Lord William Hay." tried at the Uraballah court on the 18th and 19th of November, a decree nisi was pronounced, with costs against the co-respondent. A man apprehended at Tarporley, Cheshire, the other day f)r begging was found to have a bank book, from which it appeared that he was in the habit of depositing his surplus gains in the post office savings banks of the towns throughwhich he passed. EUROPEAN ASSURANCE Socirry.—The directors of this society have issued a circular in which they state that a special fund of £50,000 will be formed to meet guarantee claims. This fund it is proposed to form by annually setting aside £lO,OOO until the suaount vaintred shall have been reached. Prince Arthur is having a ball-room built in connection with his residence at Montreal, and will give a series of balls during the ‘. inter. A plan has just been formed at Cambridge for the delivery of a series of lectures to women by those who are directly occupied in the instruction of the university. The committee consists of Professors Adams, C. C. Babington, Caytey, Liveing, and Maurice, and nineteen fellows and tutors or lecturers of different Colleges. Four ladies resident in Cambridge are on Vie executive , committee.  A boy named James Smart, 14 years of age, in the service of a farmer, near Brechin, committed suicide the other day by drowning himself in the mill dam. It appears that the boy has been subject to a weakness which exposed him to the jeers of his companions, and ultimately to dismissal from his master's service, which preyed upon his mind. The death of Colonel Richard Burke, one of the Fenian convicts, is announced. The Irishman says he has died mad, and says if there were in the hearts of British statesmen one just drop of blood to save their souls from the reprobation of God and man, they would, after the occurrence of so hideous a catastrophe, fling open the prison gates at once, the words italicised being printed in the largest type. At the London Bankruptcy Court there are about "one thousand cases" pending, and sittings have been extended far into the next year, so that the business under the present system will continue "another year." Friendly arrests have been numerous of late to obtain adjudications—in prison one day and out the next. No person can make himself a bankrupt under the new system, and hence the present " rush " into the court