The Sun. — 1859-04-18 (London, England)

SUICIDE IN BLENHEIM PARK.  On Friday afternoon an inquest was held at the Bear Hotel, Woodstock, by Mr. William Branner, OR the body of a Spanish gentleman, when the following evidence was adduced :  Mr. Joseph Haines, landlord of the Bear Hotel, Woodstock, deposed that on Tuesday afternoon, the 12th inst., the deceased arrived at his house by the omnibus from the Woodstock station on the Great Western Railway, and stayed there till the middle of the day on Thursday, when he went out, as he supposed, to make sketches in the Park, as he had previously inquired which were the most forestlooking parts of the park to make sketches from. He left the inn about 12 o'clock, having previously ordered a dinner to be prepared for him by 6 o'clock in the evening. He heard nothing more of him until about 4 o'cloc, when he was informed that a gentleman had shot himself in the park, and on going there be identified the body as that of the gentleman who had been staying at his house. The deceased spoke English fluently, was particularly quiet and reserved, and employed himself chiefly in writing during the time he was at the inn. Malcolm heir, inspector of the county police at Woodstock, deposed that in consequence of information which he had received from Mr. Scott, he went to that part of the park where the body was lying, and found that the deceased had a pistol in one hand, with his fingers on the trigger, and that a bullet had passed from the mouth through the skull and out at the back of the hat. Upon the deceased were found a double-barreled pistol, powder flask, box of caps, box of wadding, five bullets, a Spanish knife, a sovereign, three shillings, thre e pence, a cigar-case, shirt and wrist studs, and a pocket-book containing a letter addressed to the Duke of Marlborough, one to Mrs. Haines, at the Bear Hotel, a passport, and sundry other letters in Spanish as well as in English. One of the latter was addressed, " Don Antonio Arrom de Ayala, Spanish Consul for Australia, Tavistock Hotel, Covent-garden." The following is a copy of the letter addressed to the Duke of Marlborough : " Woodstock, April 14. "My Lord,—l humbly ask your lordship's pardon and forgiveness for the great liberty I have taken in coming to put an end to my dreary and miserable existence in your park. It may be childish feeling, but one cannot blow his brains out in a common road, or one of those cultivated fields full of cottages, and life, and civilisation, and railways, and establishments of all kinds, of which your bessed country of England abound. So I have not found another proper place to die decently than your handsome park, and you must bear the inconvenience of a dead man in your grounds. I mean no offence. " I have yesterday visited your house, hoping that the sight of good things, and chiefly good paintings, could do me good, and soften the wild ideas that have led me to put an end to my life ; but all of no use. Your manor is one of the most splendid things I ever saw in my life, and I have travelled about and seen nearly everything- worth seeing. You have the finest Ilubens that can be seen ; that should have a great attraction for me under other circumstances, but now they have been of no use. " I hope, with that splendid house, and park, and paintings, and library, you are happy, my lord. If that is the case you will have a kind heart, and pity a poor devil come to die in your grounds. If, on the contrary, you are miserable also, as wealth is a medium, and do not constitute happiness then you will say, like old Dido,— " Non ignara mali, miseric succurere disco,' and pity me, and order that they shall leave me quiet, and bury me in the spot I have died, and put a cross on it in the Spanish fashion. I will be very grateful in the other world for it if you do so, and wish not to trouble any more your Lordship about me. " I am, my Lord, yours respectfully, "A. ARROM DE AYALA "  ----This letter was addressed outside "To his Lord the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Manor, or where he may be." The following is a copy of the letter to Mrs. Haines :  14, 19. "My dear Madam,—Pray do not be alarmed April when 85 you know I am dead on account of the payment of expenses at your quiet, comfortable place. " I had rest and quiet for my last arrangements at your hotel, and comfortable accommodation, and I am grateful for it. I wrote to my friend in London, Mr. Albert Rottman, 26, Duncan-terrace, Islington, London, who will come, no doubt, open my carpet-bag, and pay you liberally my last bill on earth. If that letter is lost, and by some chance this gentleman does not come after two months from this day, nor any other person of my relatives or friends and settle your bill, I authorise you to open my carpet-bag and take £4 out of £ll you will find in my purse and send the carpet-bag, with my watch, chain, a ring with a seal of wifecoat nf arms,sra n of. Spain, oa rn4d, Ava el.lnAi its ttßh contents, eo trloupb lEteo IA y Messrs. Duff, Gordon, and Co., 79, Great Tower-street, to be sent to my causeA you.. Yoursobediently, This letter was addressed outside " To the Landlord of Haynes's Hotel, "Woodstock." A telegram was received stating that some of the friends of the deceased would be-at Woodstock the next morning (Saturday). In consequence of this it was agreed to adjourn the inquest till Saturday afternoon, at five o'clock.