The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1871-01-06 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

ONE OF "THE PUNDITS OF PPICOEH.V Jan. 4th, 1871,  Wu shall feet ohliged cwc.:.ipon le.ns aid write on one aide of their 1113101 script sheets, as e are often inconvenienced I.y a der a ware from this system.  One of the most remarkable cases known in the annals of suicide occurred (says the Cievetana Leader of Dec. 6) in this city, on the Heights between last Friday night and Saturday morning. An Englishman, named John Cleig, about 40 years of age, invited his friends out with him for a spree. Friday evening, at about eight o'clock, Cleig left his home, on Seymour Avenue, and, in company with several of his countrymen, all hailing from the same part of England, repaired to a saloon. Cleig appeared in the most excellent spirits, lively and full of fun, and in singing, telling stories, cracking jokes, and drinkin4 several hours rolled by. Every little while he invited his friends to drink with him, and was the first on each occasion to fill his glass, drain it, and set it down with a crash upon the counter. Cleig's friends noticed that he had a small bottle containing a powder, of which he ate frequently. At a late hour of the night he drew forth the bottle from his pocket, and, after putting some of its contents into his month, passed it around to all his friends, who partook of it in small quantities, and handed it back to him, when he ate of it again. After this, he called in a loud voice for a bottle of champagne, which the company drank, and then separated Cleig returned home, and retired to his bed without speaking to any one in the house. The next morning (Saturday) the family with whom he boarded were astonished at his absence from the breakfast table, and sent to his room, where be was seen in bed, breathing very heavily, the appearance of everything about the room indicating that the previous night had been passed in a hard spree. He was left alone for a few moments, when the heavy breathing changed to loud groans, and the man was seen tossing to and fro in his bed, as if a prey to the most acute pain. Dr. Hart was sent for, and on his arrival found the man dead. On examining the room Dr. Hart discovered the bottle from which Cleig had taken so much on the previous' night, and finding that it contained morphine, concluded that the deceased had poisoned himself. Coroner Schenck was notified of the matter, and at once gave it a thorough investigation. The persons who had been with Cleig the night before were summoned; they recognised the bottle produced as the one seen with Cleig, from which he frequently took a powder, and from which all of them ha I taken a small dose of poison while they were so much under the influence of liquor as not to recognise it, It was discovered that the bottle contained over a drachm of morphine, of which the deceased had taken. Cleig was a widower, having two children, ane possessed of sufficient means to live without working. No reason can be assigned by any of his friends for his thus putting an end to his life. Flie new halfpenny post has necessitated it large addition to the staff of the circulation branch of the Post Office. The authorities accordingly advertise for 130 boy sorters.  On Friday, the directors appointed Mr. Wilkinson, formerly of the transfer office, to be secretary of the North-Eastern Railway Company, in place of Mr. Cleghorn, who retires, and is to be appointed a director.  At nine o'clock on Saturday morning fler Majesty's New Year's gifts to the poor of Windsor were distributed in the Riding School at Windsor Castle. 2,208 lbs. of beef were presented to 790 recipients, and 1,205 cwt. of coals sent to their homes.