Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1892-10-01 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

SUICIDE OF MR. HERON.  The mysterious death of Miss Ruby Russell has been followed by a startling sequel in the suicide, on Sunday, of Mr. Alexander Woodburn Heron. Overcome by the awful character of the suspicions surrounding him, Mr. Heron seems to have deliberately resolved on self-destruction. He left the Fulham-road Mortuary after the inquest on "Ruby Russell" about a quarter past three O'clock. Late on Saturday night he presented himself at the Craven Hotel, Cravenstreet, Strand, and engaged a third .floor back bedroom. He gave his name and immediately retired. Circumstances se.,m to indicate that he slept little during the night. He was heard moving about in the morning, but he did not come down to breakfast. Then all became quiet, and no movement being heard in the room, and the day wearing on, & servant knocked at his door. No answer was given. The matter was reported downstairs to the manager, and after some further vain attempts to arouse hirn it was decided to force bia locked door. A terrible spectacle met the eyes of the hotel people. The room bore evidence of the cool, methodical manner in which the unfortunate man bad taken steps to end his life. He was lying on some sheets, which were saturated with the blood that had flowed from a wound in V* left side of the throat. The razor with whilt he had effected his purpose was lying kr his side. An empty bottle, which on examinant_ en wee found to have contained morphine, was tive Mem, and near it was a saucer, with the 41mik- of the fluid in it. 4 considenban Mae  must nave elapseu necween toe execution or tne iced and the discovery of the body. On searching the clothes of the deceased the police found in one of the pockets a number of visiting cards, which left no room for doubt as to his identity. They bore the inscription. "A. Woodburn Heron, H.M. Colonial Medical Service." Several papers were also found, and among these was a letter, about which there has been much speculation. It was in Mr. Heron's handwriting, and was addressed to a gentleman whose name has not vet transpired. That Mr. Heron has in this document stated the reasons that led him to take his life is probable, but there appears to be no foundation for the suggestion that it is anything in the nature of a confession of complicity in the dealli of the girl "Ruby Russell." The letter was taken possession of by the police, and its contents have so far been kept secret. It was despatched to whom it was addressed, with an intimation that lie would be required, as the last person with whom the deceased held communication, to give evidence at the inquest and to produce the letter if necessary. A newspaper was found in the room on which the deceased had, evidently in his last moments, written words expressing his love for the dead girl, "Ruby Russell," and hoping they would soon be together again. This and all other papers found in the room have been seized by the police. Later information indicates that Mr. Heron took a considerable quantity of morphine with the intention of killing himself, and did not sever the jugular vein until some hours afterwards. On the margin of a newspaper which was found by him were written in pencil some words addressed to a person who at present is not known in connectin with this sensational case. This writing com• mences, "Dear Dolly," and proceeds, it is stated, as follows :—"lmpress on all our friends how strictly I avoid all spirituous liquors. Good-bye. Goodbye, Dolly. Ruby and I will soon meet now, Dolly, if people do meet there." Then there is the date, "September 25th, 1892." In another place en the page there is the following: "It seems very slow. Why, it is actually 2.15 a.m." Then again he writes: "Fancy, fancy, actually half-past, 2.30 a.m. Good-bye, I feel comfortable; g.ood-bye." Then in another place there is the tune, "2.38 a. in.," and the words, "It seems very slew. ILiwever, there is some more left, for I bought thirty grains. I have now fully takcn eighteen grains now. I feel perfectly healthy and well. I have felt, as you know, most beautifully waint and comfortable, as people always do after mori