The Sun. — 1851-09-30 (London, England)

LAMENTABLE SUICIDE.  BRISTOL, SEPT. 29.—This morning, between nine and ten o'clock, the neighbourhood of St. Paul's, Bristol. was startled by the intelligence that a very respectable tradesman of the name of Baker, residing in Milk-street, had committed suicide. It appeared from the evidence adduced at the inquest, which was held this afternoon, before Mr. Joseph Baker Grindon, the city coroner, that the deceased, Mr. Francis John Baker, was a highly respectable plasterer and painter, of about forty years of age, carrying on business in partnership with his father, and, until about four weeks since, in the usual manner. At that time his two sons, who were his only children, sailed in the Cosmo for the United States, having been induced to do so by the continual solicitations of Mr. Baker's sister, who has been a resident of the United States for the last twenty years. From the period of their departure his mind became very depressed, and indeed so much so as to excite the apprehension of his friends. This morning (Monday), however, he rose at the usual hour and went about his business, giving directions to his workmen. At between nine and ten o'clock, the unfortunate gentleman not having come to his breakfast, search was made for him, when it was discovered that one of the upper workshops was fastened, and being forced open, the body of Mr. Baker was found lying on the floor quite dead, the greater portion of his skull and brains being blown about the room, and a gun lying with the barrel on a vice, and some string fastened to the left hand of the deceased. From the appearance of the gun, &c., the deceased must have fastened the string to the trigger and to his hand, and then placed the muzzle in his mouth, as the upper jaw was broken, and the whole of the cranium blown off. From the whole of the evidence it appeared that up to the period of his children's departure the deceased was of a very cheerful temperament, but since, he had frequently been found crying about them, and lamenting their departure. The jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity.  Du. 3/VITALE IN LIVERPOOL: In consequence of a previous announcement that Archbishop M•Hale would preach at St. Nicholas's Chapel, in this town, in aid of the charity school attached to that place of worship, the chapel was crowded to excess on Sunday last, although the charges for admission were 2s. 6d. and ls.  A WHALE IN THE CLYDE•—On Friday afternoon as Mr. Lamb, of Greenock, was rowing along in a a small boat with two lads near the mouth of the Gareloch, he discovered a whale grounded on the shore, when they immediately rowed towards it, and after a vigorous struggle of two hours, succeeded in dispatching it with the boat-hook, when it proved to be of the bottle-nosed species, measuring twenty-two feet in length. It was towed towards Greenock, and exhibited to the public on Saturday. We believe the carcase was sold for 101. The appearance of this monster of the deep in our water caused considerable excitement among the denizens of the coast; and before it was secured, numerous boats put to sea in chase, armed with pitchforks, spades, beat-hooks, rusty swords, and every offensive weapon that could be laid hold of. After it had taken the ground, and before it was killed, it created a dreadful commotion in the water, blowing and lashing the sea into foam, and sending the spray from twenty to thirty feet into the air. The hugh tish measured between six and seven feet in diameter, and the tail was six feet broad.— Glasgow Poet.