Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1864-05-06 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.  --0.- As briefly stated in the Amato/ of Monday, Sir Thomas .ludkin Fitzgerald, the descendant of a man unhappily notorious in. 1798. committed suicide on Tuesday night week, by throwing himself into the river Suir, near his own residence, Golden Hills. It appears that he was severely pre-sed by pecuniary difficulties Ile had twen in Dunlin the greater part of the previous week, is is supposed, with the &yea of effecting an arrangement with some of his creditors. There he was met by several of his friends, who found him in his nraal health and spirits. 11e returned home, and was in Cionme! on Monday. It appears that there was an execution then in his house for the debt of £309, and the bailiffs were in possession. He made a last effort ti raise this amount on Monday morning, but his solicitor failed to accomplish it. owing to the heavy liabilities under which he laboured. He went home by the train on Ttle•day afternoon, having left a letter with his solicitor stating that he should shortly be no more, anti indicating where his body would be found. This gentleman immediately communicated with the siffiee of the constabulary, and a telegram was at once sent with imperative orders for the instant arrest of Sir Thomas Fitzgerald. Rut the precaution was, unfortunately, too late. From the evidence given by his c acbman and butler at the inquest, held on Friday, by the coroner of the district, we learn that Sir Thomas arrived from Dublin at the Gold Cross Station at I 1.311 p.m tri Tu, slay night. Ile drove the car him. sit very cari•fully. Ile was unusually silent, and tWeitir,l rather angry, as if he was disappointed about ; tiu• otherwise in his ordinary state of mind lie reached I; Iden 11ills about half-past twelve o'clock. The family had retired to rest, except the butler, who waited up for his master. He first went upstairs, it was supposed to Lady Fitzgerald's room. In about ten minutes he returned and took some tea. Some time after he went to the parlour door and said, Michael, come and take away the things.' While the butler was doing as he was directed, Ids master went into his study Ile again went upstairs ; but shortly after the same servant heard him unbar the hall door and go out. He Lad taken no wine or spirits, and used never to take any. The servant, taking no notice of his going out, as he sometimes had omasion to do so, went to bed. After about an hour Lady Fitzgerald tapped at his door and said, Michael, get up. Sir Thomas is gone out somewhere, and he has not returned. You had better go out towards the shrubbery and see what is the matter. I fear he has got a weakness.' The butler then went to the shrubbery, and not finding his master, Lady • Fitzgerald became alarmed, and a second search, with a • lantern, was made about the grounds in vain. At daylight the coachman was called, and when the search was about to be renewed, Lady Ftzgerald came to Bourke, the butler, and said,' Michael, come here. I  must have been stupid that I did not find this letter before now.' She had a letter in her hand, which she said she hail found on a stand at the side of the bed where her husband used to lie. She read a part of it. lie inferred from it that all was over with Sir Thomas. He and Bourke, the coachman, then hurried out and searched all the grounds. At length they found his hat and coat on the bank of the river near the spot which the deceased had himself indicated. They hastened with this information to Lady Fitzgerald, the police were sent for, and about 200 yards further down the body was found in the shallow water. Life was extinct. As Sir Thotnas was a remarkably good swimmer, it is supposed he must have taken some drug to prevent the failure of his attempt at self-destruction.