Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1889-03-09 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

PIGOTI"S  IDENTIFICATION OF HIS BODY.  DETAILS OF THE OCCURRENCE.  The arrest and suicide of Richard Pigott in Madrid caused a great sensation. The Standard's correspondent telegraphs: Pigott arrived here on Thursday morning by the express from France, and was accosted at the station by the English-speaking interpreter of the H6tel Embajadores, who accompanied him to the hotel, where he was provided with rooms on the first floor. After breakfast he set out, still accompanied by the interpreter, to view the museums, churches, and other sights of Madrid. He seemed perfectly composed, and talked freely in English upon all sorts of :subjects. The only baggage he brought with him was a small handbag containing very few articles, one shirt, a bank cheque-book, and an umbrella. He was well dressed, and wore a tall silk hat. The interpreter describes him as above middle height, rather stout, and with a long grizzled beard. Pigott sent a telegram to some friend in London. It announced his safe arrival, and gave his Madrid address. It appears that the Civil Governor of Madrid had been requested to be on the lookout for Pigott, as he was " wanted " by the British police, and, accordingly, he sent an inspector to all the hotels, giving a description of Pigott. When this inspector arrived at the Hotel Embaj adores and spoke to the interpreter, he at once recognised the Englishman, "Ronald Ponsonby," as the man who was wanted. He accordingly wenb up and told Pigott that the police were asking for him, the inspector waiting below. Pigott asked permission to collect his luggage,and retired to the alcove for that purpose; but no sooner had he disappeared than a loud report was heard, and the interpreter and inspector rushing in found that he had placed a revolver in his mouth and blown the top of his head off. When the Judge arrived he took possession of all his effects  The Central News correspondent says: It seems that all the British Embassies on the Continent had received orders from the Government to ask the police to watch the arrival of an Irishman answering Pigott's descrip ticn, the Spanish Embassy being especially notified. On the morning of February 28, a man answering that description arrived in Madrid, and was immediately "shadowed" by the police. Having first communicated with the British Embassy, the commissionaire of the police in the afternoon went to the Hotel Einbajadores, where the suspected one had taken up his quarters, and through an interpreter quietly informed him that be wanted to speak to him. Pigott naturally inquired who the gentleman was, and on being told by the interpreter he simply replied, "All right." However, as the interpreter turned towards the door to admit the commissionaire, Pigott drew a revolver from his breast pocket and instantly applying it to his mouth blew his brains out with the one discharge. The bullet penetratcd his skull, a portion of which was shattered,the headed presenting a horrible spectacle. The British Embassy was informed of the occurrence at once, and from a photograph produced the would-be suicide was identified as Pigott. He is described as being Mt. 7in. in height, with a long white beard, bald on the top of the head, and about 60 years of age. In one of his pockets was found a notebook with many addresses of French and British places, but principally addresses of persons residing in Dublin. In another pocket a cheque-book of a Dublin bank and a pipe were found. On his underclothing being examined, it was discorered that under his shirt he wore a Roman Catholic scapulary, thus affording additional proof as to his identity. The only luggage in his possession was a small hand-bag, containing a few shirts and socks, seemingly but newly purchased. On this handbag the letters R. P. were marked, and it is thought he gave the fictitious name of Ronald Ponsonby in order that the two letters might correspond with his own name and thus avoid sus. picion as far as his luggage was concerned.