The Sun. — 1831-08-29 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF TWO LOVERS.  A great sensation has prevailed in the town of Ripon during the last few days, in consequence of the sudden disappearance of two young persons of the names of Andrew Roy and Elizabeth Meadley. It appears they were strongly attached to each other, and that their intimacy had existed for two years. On Thursday evening, the 18th, this young couple were present at, anti took part in, a dance at a public-house, along with the girl's parents, and some other friends of the parties ; they all left the inn about twelve o'clock. Roy accompanied his sweetheart home, and went into the house ; he was rather intoxicated, and wished to remain there all night ; the girl's father, who was also in liquor, objected, and urged him to go home. At this treatment, as well as from the disinclination of the young woman's friends to the match, he felt offended, and muttered something as he went away; before he quitted the house he asked to speak to Elizabeth —" only for three minutes" privately ; her father reluctantly yielded to the joint entreaties of Roy and his daughter, and allowed her to go to the door. She then went out with her bonnet ; after waiting for some time for her return, her mother went in search of them, but in vain. Nothing was beard of the parties on Fridayor Saturday; still it was hoped that they might have gone off for the purpose of being married. On Sunday morning, however, a leather case, containing two flutes, was found in the river Ure, close by the town ; these flutes were known to have been in Roy's possession, and used by him on the Thursday evening. The most painful apprehensions now began to be felt, and their parents were a prey to the most distressing fears. The river was dragged on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday ; band-hills were distributed, and every inquiry set on foot by the Magistrates, and by the police under their directions; but all were fruitless till the afternoon of Tuesday, at four o'clock, when the body of the young woman was found, entangled by her long hair in some wreck and sand, about three miles down the river, betwixt Ripon and Boroughbridge. The next morning (Wednesday) the body of Roy was found near to the spot where it is supposed they had gone into the river. A Coroner's inquest sat upon the bodies, but no evidence, except the, substance of what has already been related, was adduced to throw any light on this mysterious affair, and a verdict of " Found Drowned " was rec,rded. Roy, who was one of the band of the Yorkshire Hussars, was ai fine looking man, about twentyseven years of age, and by trade a cabinet-maker. The illfated young woman was about twenty-one, very prepossessing in her appearance, and of unimpeachable character; she was a mantua-maker. Her fate has excited the deepest sympathy among all classes. The funerals took place on Wednesday evening, and were attended by thousands ; and the feeling- exhibited by the assembled crowd was creditable to their humanity. One grave received the remains of the two lovers. It is difficult to find even the shadow of a reason for this act of desperation. Roy was in liquor doubtless, and probably highly exasperated at the supposed unkind treatment of the girl's father, in urging him to go home; he had been drinking, too, for the last three or four days, as it had been the annual feast at Ripon, so that he had scarcely known what he did ; and yet, from the house of Elizabeth's parents to the water side is only about a mile. Elizabeth, whose fidelity was worthy of a better fate, would not, it is supposed, see him parish alone, and, in a momentary delirium, plunged in after him. It may be remarked that the parents of the young woman have been most unfortunate as regards some of their children, as three of them, previous to this melancholy circumstance, leave met an untimely death—by drowning and by fire. The following particulars are furnished by a correspondent : " I have known Roy, from his childhood—his habits have been very irregular for some time—and his indolence has been such as to occasion sharp rebukes from his own father ; he was fond of music, and of a romantic turn— given to company, and of a high ungovernable temper, which could not brook any opposition—his indolence and expensive habits kept him poor, and he seemed dissatisfied with himself and every thing about him. The poor whom I also knew personally, was very respectab;e in her situation—her fate has excited great commiseration. Some think that she would never go into the water without compulsion—and I did incline to that opinon ; when, however, I was told how much she loved Roy, I came to the conclusion, that, seeing him madly resolved on self-destruction, she chose to perish with him ! Near to the place where they had gone into the river, stands a fine tree, uuder which they had spent many hours, and the spot being secluded and picturesque, it had been a favourite resort of the parties. One of our constables, who assisted in searching for the bodies, and who, indeed, was the mar. that found Roy, told me that he saw Roy and his sweetheart sitting under this tree about two months since, and coming up to them, he said jokingly, 4 Bossy, this'is a dangerous place to be in with a faithless lover, the water is close and very deep, take care he does not drown ye." " P.S. I am told that old Meedley and Roy had some very sharp words on the evening of the 18th, after the dance. Roy mud his wish to marry Miss Meadley, but her father repeatedly refused to give his consent, on the gr unds that he could not support a wife and family. This refusal the impetuous young man resented with menaces, and amongst other intemperate expressions he exclaimed You will repent this.' "—Leeds Mercury,.  On Tuesday last a covey of five brace and a half of partridge; flew into the coach-house belonging to the Wheatsheaf Inn, at Barkway. Mr. POCOCK, the master of the inn, happening to be nigh, closed the doors, and succeeded in capturing four brace, all alive, which he fastened in a hamper, and sent to the lord of the manor.— Cambridge Independent Press.