The Haslingden Gazette. — 1905-08-12 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

SCII.II Usher has been engaged as pro, with the Crompton Club. Usher appears to have followed his duties there regularly until Monday, July 3lst, when he came home unwell. Ott Friday morning of last week he left home without breakfast, and lie did not return until half-past ten en Tuesday nth!. His wife, who in the meantime had herself made on. quirk,s about him and mught in that object the aid of several who knew hini well, questioned him on his return as to where he hart boon and what he had been doing. Usher, replied, "To Ripon, but I don't know that it mattera much." It is surmised that he referred to his having attended tho Ripon races. Having given his reply Usher sat &ism a few minutes. Theo Ito got tip, took Ids cap from the lobby, returned to the kitchen, stood beside the table for about a minute, and then left the house saying, "Good-bye." About half-past five next morning (Wednesday) Charles Parker, a warehouseman employed at Carr and Parker's Mill, Charles-lane, noticed Olt the lodge bank a veat. This was taken up to the police station, with the suggested explanation that it teemed to be Usher's. The suggestion received corroboration when ill the pockets were found midget photos of Usher himself, his wife, and each of the seven children at horne—the complete family with the exception of one married. Inspector McVey sent down to Usher's home. Mrs. Usher said her husband had not been home since tho previous night nod she thought there was some_ .  thing wrong- . She identified the vest. The lodge tvas dragged, and at the second throw of the grappling irons Usher's body- was brought out. This was about ten o'clock. The body was about six yards from tho embankment, and it was surmised that Usher had jumped into the lodge from the outlet of a pipe which poured hot water into the bulge. The body was taken home on the ambulance Utter.  Although Usher we -snot at home between Friday morning and Tuesday night, several people speak to seeing him in the town on Friday and Saturday. An incident now recalled of Saturday is il.  luminative, in the turn of events since then. It is to the effect that Usher was in a public-house, and that when he left one of the company said, " Well, goodbye„Tack." Usher said, "Yen. Good-bye for a long time." It is added that the company supposed that Usher when ho called at the hotsoo was on his way to the railway station to fulfil his engagement with Crompton Club, but from what afterward, occurred he had stayed too long and missed his train. Usher did not play with Crompton last Saturday, and the fact was commented on early in the week. Whether he had intctickd to play with them is a matter that has been discussed niece Wednesday. A sad feature of the case, a feature which has aroused the deepest sympathy in Haalingders, is that Usher leaves seven young children (there is a daughter married, in addltion), the oldest of whom  • abut is eighteen. and only two or perhaps three of whom are working.  Usher was always riumenrely popular in Hardingden. and the discovery of Wednesday was a shock to the whole town. No doubt wa.i entertained . . .  that he had committed suicide, but the greatest surpriso that a man of his temperament should have oanmitted such an act. Those who knew him best declare that he was the last man in the  world of whom they would have suspected such a thing. For Usher was a man of most remarkably even temperament. Nothing over seemed to ruffle him. Ho took triumph or reverse ns one. But he was a very reserved mall, and in this tray  lie the explanation of what otherwise eems incs. plieahle.  Tho flag of the Hmlingden Conacrvativo Club, of which Ushor waa a member, was out at halfmast in tributo to him.