Weekly News. — 1889-11-21 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE OF A REPORTER.  HOW HE FELT WHEN AT BLANDFORD.  Mr. Francis George Palfrey (aged 20), a reporter on the Warwickshire Advertiser, who for sane twelve months was engaged on the staff elf the Western Chronicle, committed suicide ea Wednesday night, the lath Mutant, by drowning himself in the Priory Pools at Warwick. For 831116 months he was located at Blandford, where he discharged his duties in a most efficient mammy. He was much given to the study of Carlyle's works, and books of a pessimistic nature, and he took a very gloomy view of life for a young man. Under the nom de plume of " Koptos " he wrote some very clever sketches which attracted a good deal of publio attention, and was a frequent contributor to Tit Bits. Unfortunately, with all his ability, he had a somewhat morbid temperament. This tendency was aggravated by reading pessimistic works. He bothered his brain, too, a good deal about " Theosophy," but had to admit that he could not thoroughly underutand it. His mind dwelt largely on theological subjects, and hu loved also to tread the bye-ways of literature which were , avoided by others. For one so young his best was s strange one, and showed that he was a youth who had very little in common with people of his own age. Although somewhat of a pessimist, he had a vivid imagination and a poetic temperament, with a noble ideal of womanhood. In a word, he was clever beyond his years, and had the head of an old man upon young shoulders. Before returning home, about ten o'clock on Wednesday night, the 13th inst., he spent some time with the young lady to whom he was engaged, and to whom he was to be married next September. His father saw no difference in him that evening, but hi step-mother thought he looked troubled. He was suffering from a cold, and she prepared some gruel for him. His chest was always weak, and gave him some uneasiness. He often said he would emigrate to a warmer climate to avoid the English winters. At ten minutes past eleven his parents retired to Led, leaving him reading or writing, as they often did. In the morning when they rose they found the door open, and that yoking Palfrey had not been in bed. They became alarmed, and made inquiries at the Advertiser Office and from a colleague with whom he had spent a portion of the previous evening. In the meantime a youth named Randall, is fetching in some cows, noticed a hat lying on the footpath adjoinuog the Priory Pools, and on going to the spot he saw a body in the water. P.C. Salt was summoned, and it was found to be the body of Mr. Palfrey. He was lying on his side, with his hands stretched in front, in about three feet of water. The deceased had his shoes on, but they were partly unlaced. Whim he was last seen alone at home he was wearing his slippers. His pocket handkerchief had been tied in a series of knots, being probably done under the influence of some excitement. He was fully dressed, but had left his overcoat at home. His watch, which he was wearing, was stopped at 20 minutes past 12, and it is supposed that hi must have entered the water shortly after midnight. . . .  -1t -the inquest Miss Agues Hart, the young lady to whom deceased was engaged, said deceased appeared to object to her going out to s sewing class. In reply to the Coroner witness added: I said to him, I wish you would have someone better educated and better fitted for you than I am." He then asked if I thought he had the power of making use happy, and I told him I thought he had. I then said that I only wished I could make him as happy as he deserved. He stayed with no till ten o'clock and then went home—The Coroner: When he left did he appear to be offended? Witness: No; he left in good spirits, and we were on the best of terms. He was working till he left us. Another witness, named Williain Scarff, reporter, Leicester Daily Post, said that until four months ago he WAS residing in Warwick and was intimately acquainted with the deceased. When Palfrey first came to Warwick he was particularly silent and moody, and on one occasion he told him that while at /31andford, in Dorsetahire, he very often felt inclined to commit suicide, and that he used to study the different methods of suicide resorted to from time to tune. He added that if ever he did commit suicide he should use charcoal. Witness had heard him say that when passiug the river at Blaudford he had often felt a sort of uncontrollable impulse to jump in, for which he could not account at all. After a time he became much more lively in his dispcsition, and much less morose. Deceased looked forward to getting married. lAA winter he had very severe colds, which appeared to shift about his body; and on one occissiou, when he went to Dr. Rankin, he said that if the doctor had assured him he would die of consumption he would not wait for the end. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst of ansound mind."