The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1872-06-22 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE OF A FRENCH REFUGEE. In London, on Monday, Dr. Lankester, the coroner for Central Middlesex, held an inquest on the body of Hippoly te Jeurand, aged 45 years, a Frenchman, holding a medical diploma, who committed suicide in a cell at George-street Police-station. The evidence of M. N. Roussell. Dr. Louis Vargas, and others, showed that for some years the deceased had been in practice at a small village near Paris. In the time of the Commune he was attached to a battalion of their Guards, after which he WM a colleague of M. Roussel!. A fortnight ago he came to England, and acted as assistant to M. Louit Vargan, of Soho. On Wednesday, in last week he dined with M. Roussell, to whom he remarked th .t lie was tired of his life, and should some day commit suicide, showing a small phial (similar to that seen in his hand when in the police cell). He left his friend's house about eight o'clock in the evening, and about half-past twelve the following morning he was given into the custody of Police-constable ShaW for assaulting two women in Church-lane, St. Giles's. Hewas taken to George-street Police-station and charged. The station sergeant, noticing he was excited, had him examined by Dr. Ward, who saw nothing unusual inhis manner. He was therefore placed in a cell by himself, but not being charged with felony was notsearehed. During the night he was visited at frequent intervals, and at six o'clock Mr. Crook, the inspector, went to his cell and found him on the bench asleep. About half an hour afterwards a knocking was heard, and Inspector Crook, having been informed by the constable in reserve that he had desired to be allowed to send a message to a friend, again proceeded to the cell with a pencil and some paper. He found the deceased standing close ti the door, with a determined look, and hold- I ing a small bottle in his hand. He stepped backwards, and before the inspector could seize him, he had poured the contents down his throat. Pr. Ward was again sent for, but his services were too hits .death having been instantaneous. On the cell seat was his bat, in which was a slip of paper, on winch was written in Fund) "Address my money to M. La llochais, No 1, Rue Montmartre, Paris, also my clothes ; there are more at Mr. Fargean, stationer, in London, and at the laundress, who lives at Mr. Blanchard, stationers in street." Mr, Ward, M.R.C.S., said the cause of death was poisoning by pressic acid. Witness had examined the contents (a few dropsj of the bottle taken from deceased in his cell by the police-ins-pector, and forgid it was a French preparation (aside cyanbydrique), nTteen times stronger than the naval English prussic acid. In reply to the Coroner, it was stated by some friends that the deceased had not been sent over here by the present Government of France, but bad come of his own accord. A considerable eum of foreign and English coin was found on his person after death. A verdict of "Suicide while in a state of unsound mind" was returned.  THE FETERE OF LAKE ERlE.—American papers predict that Lake Eric will in time dry up and become the home of a teeming population. Carefral surveys have shown that Lake Michigan bas an average depth of 1,800 feet. Lake Superior of 900 feet, and Lake Ontario of 500 feet ; Lake Erie only 120 feet, which is said to be constantly decreasing The bottom of the Lake is quite level, and composed of soft clay This clay is constantly a,ccumuLtting, from sedimeat car: led down by tributary streams. The south shore composed of easily disintegrating blue, gray, and olive shoals, and gray sand stone. The western and northern cossta are made up of limestone of the Helderbeg group, which quickly yields to the action of the waves. Con. ta silently both shores constantly are contributing to till up the lied of the lake. The work is not rapid, but it d said to be as sure as fate.