Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1881-04-29 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE OF THE WARRIOR'S STEWARD.  Pr' lay afternoon the ingnest was held, at !mouth, on the body of John William B,unning, a resident in Portland, and ship's steward on d the Warrior. _ _  itr. E. J. Harvey, Admiralty law azent, appeared the Admiralty. and Mr. George Feltham for the low of deceased.  From the evidence of Mr. James May, schoolmaster the Warrior, it appeared that the deceased ws 42 ar3 of age, of a nervous temperament, and liable to qession of spirits. But, though fond of a glass of he had never, during the eight months which teas had known him, been seen incapable of perming his work. Witness was with the deceased m half.plst eight on Tuesday morning, and they oe ashore together between two and three in the moon, when they went to "Tf tter dell's" Hotel, Zt, George's Square, Portsea, and remaked there ii after five, the deceased during that time liaving one glass of ale. They then went to the Muse of use's aunt in Somer's-road, Southsea, and partook tea. The deceased seemed low-spirited, and deed going to the theatre; but they went for a short lir, and, as the deceased complained of being tired, y returned in a tramcar to the hotel at Por'sea. ce in the afternoon, and again in the evening, the eased exhibited a confused manner, and on witness ung the hotel he felt some anxiety about the eased, and consequently requested Mr. Crossland, proprietor, to look after him until he (witness) led for the deceased at half-past seven in the mornto go on board his ship. .y /iy. Harvey: The deceased never made any plaint on board his ship, but he seemed to have a fladless i4ea or delusion that both afloat and ore people were endeavouring to take advantage of  y Mr. Feltharo : About a month since the deceased atrAin upon him, by the making up of his hog accounts, and a month before that he cornled of having to nay money for clothing lost by 4 serving under him. (4. D. Crossland, the keeper of Totterdell's '4l, deposed that he had known the deceased for nty years, and for three years he had exhibited a manor: of spirits, which he had attributed to smstances connected with his duties, some of which efrivolous, and other witness believed were true. juesday night the deceased remained in witness's sig•room until he went to bed, about half past 10, ~ibqut a quarter before 12 the deceased was heard Murder," and witness went to him, when he ' turn partly undressed, standing in the room, and very excited state. Deceased alleged that the 'lE' of the ship's company were around the hotel, !ere waiting to ;murder him, and he was sbakSightly. Witness got him about half a wine-glass andv, which he drank with water, and in the • of half-an-hour he became pac'fied, and promised to hed. At 20 minutes after two in the morning o'iok went to witness, told him that deceased was 'flaking a great noise, and that several gentlemen beon seeping at the hotel were in al alarmed tion at his bedroom door. Witness went toisthe , found the door fastened inside, and broke it When decf ased, who had not been to bed, 'd.there were men at tin" door waiting to murder Witness then took him down to the sitting-room, imained up with him the whole of the night, and daylight he talked and raved a good deal, and dto fasten the door. He was permitted to have of. soda water and a glass of ale at intervals, and witnese, was gone unto the kitchen, about a  quarter after six, the cl,2cemed left, the door having previously been opened to give a key to workmen and for the porters. After tint witness's son, a man servant, and witness himself, went in search of the deceased, but no trace could he found of him.  The enquiry lasted three hours, but the remainder of the evidence was to the effect that shortly before seven o'clock on Wednesday morning the body of the deceised was found floating about a hundred yrils to the south of the Clarence ETlanaie Picr, by Mr. Richard Ross, a comtnercial traveller, who had been out boating, and whose attention had been drawn to the body by Robert lore, labourer, 9, Chapel-street, Gosport. It was landed at the bebch, and taken to the mortuary in Penny-street. Mr. F. Morley, surge-n, High-street, &posed that the body presente I all the appearances of death from drowning, and the Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mini."  Great interest in the melancholy event ii f xhibited in Portland, where the deceased resided a long time.  Tilt SWANS IN THE MERE are searching ftr a nesting-place, but there will be no chance for them unless specially pr.wided. Portlanders who wish to keep them must make a retired place fJr these beautiful birds to breed.