Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1879-03-08 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE OF ALDERMAN J. H. WREN, J.P., OF STOOKTON.  A feeling of profound astonishment was created in Stockton on Saturday afternoon by a rumour that Alderman Wren had committed suicide. On e% cry hand the startling intelligence was thought incredible ; but it proved to be only too true. For many months past the deceased gentlemen had not been in the full enj yment of health, and had received ahnost daily attendance from Dr. Dale, J P., his medical advisor. In the early part of Saturday morning he was seen in High-street apparently quite well. A little later on he drove out to his mill—the "Old Mill," as it is called—in Bishopton-road, and there gave some necessary instatctions to his employees. About mid-day he reentered his small chaise with his son— a youth aged nietteea—and drove towards the village of Yarm, where he owns another mill. During the journey, however, it was arranged that Mr Wren, junior, should alight and proceed home instead of going to Yarm. The deceased gentleman then appears to have driven direct to Wood-side Hall, the residence of Mr J. H. Appleton, near Preston Junction. On arrival at the en'rance g.te, he left his pony and chaise in charge of a man, and remarked that he should not be gone ten minutes. In passing through the grounds of the hall he met the gardener, of whom he enquired if IVr Appleton was at home. Being told that he was not at hear e, the deceased alderman strolled leisurely up _the grounds and sat upon a seat near the brook, as though he intended to await Mr Appleton's return. Shortly afterwards the gardener's attention was attracted by the report of a pistol. Thinking that the sound proceeded from the spot where he had seen Alderman Wren sitting, he immediately went in that direction, and whilst doing so he heard the report of a second disci._ _ge. In another moment he-discovered that Alderman Wren had put an end to his existence under circumstances of the most painful character. The unfortunate gentleman had shot himself through the right temple, and upon the 'Eeat by his side lay the six-chambered revolver with which he had inflicted the mortal Wound. The affrighted gardener instantly returned through the grounds to inform those in the house of the sad occurreLc?. Mr .Appleton—Who had at that moment returned home—sent immediately hr medical ail; and Dr. Dale and Dr. Your g, of Yarm, were promptly in attendance. Their services, however, were of no avail, for the deceased alderman was in the agonies of death when the gardener first discovered him. Steps were subsequently taken to remove the body of the deceased gentleman to his residence, The Square, in Church-row. In one of his pockets was found a box containing about four dozen cartridges to fit the revolver, and when the weapon was examined at the police station it was discovered that the whole of the six chambers had been loaded and three of them discharged. As it was not known how the deceased became possessed of the revelver the pence at once instituted enquiries, which resulted in it berMe ascertained that, early on Saturday morning Alderman Wren purchased the weapon and ammunitioi. at the shop of Mr Ventress, High-street, Stockton. It is said that the deceased was not on friendly terms with Mr Appleton, and the visit under such extraordinary circumstances has given rise to painful suspicions. The lamentable occurrence has deprived the town of Stockton of one of her most respected and useful public men. Alderman Wren was a member of a very old and muchrespected Stockton family. He was a son of the late Alderman Thomas Wren, and, likei his father and his brother Thomas, he had long occupied a prominent and honourable position as a local representative man. For a great number of years—ever since he was a lad, in fact,—the deceased had taken a share in the business of the well-known firm (4 "Thomas Wren and Sons." About twenty years ago he married the widow of the late Mr Child, the manager of the Darlington District Bank, and afterwards married Miss Mary Ann Watson, of Stockton ; a-2.Z two children, the issue of the first marriage, and a widow are now left to lament his untimely decease. When the limits of the borough were extended in 1852, Alderman J. H. Wren became a member of the Corporation as the representative of the North-West Ward; and, at the second meeting of the Council under the borough Extension Act, he Yeas appointed one of the representatives of Stockton on the Board of Tees Conservancy Commissioners. In 1858 he was elected Mayor, and during his term of office it was his pleasurable duty to perform the ceremony of opening the Public Baths and Wash-houses in Portrack-lane. Up till the day of his death he held his seat both in the Council Chamber and at the Board of Tees Commissioners; and we believe that, with the exception of Councillor John Robinson, the deceased alderman was the only member of the Corporation who had enjoyed the honour of unbroken connection with the Council since the boundary ot the borough was enlarged in 1852. Throughout his public career he showed himself possessed of great business capacity. His tact and perspicacity, and his unwearied devotion to the duties of his office, gained for him the admiration and esteem of all ndeo knew him; whilst his liberality and loftiness of purpose have won him a name which will not soon be forgotten. Many of the most important schemes which have emanated fiom the Council Chamber owe no small degree of their success to his efforts. He might, in truth, almost be termed the "father of the Gas Works," for he was prominent among the original promoters of the scheme for acquiring the works of the old Gas Company. The active part which he has taken in the Wharf Scheme, as well as many other important measures for the development of the trade of the town, will be fresh in the minds of most of our readers, and we need not,therefore, mention them in detail. Sufficient to say that he wal an active member of the Works Committee of the Tees Commissioners, and is the Council rendered invaluable aid  as a member of the Market Committee, the Borough Fund Committee, the Gas Committee, the Parliamentary Committee, the Cemetery Cranmittee, the Finance Committee, Acc. For a great many years he has held a commission as a Justice of the Peace for the borough, and was sixty-threa years of age at the time of his death.