Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1876-05-11 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUICIDE OF A MIDDLESBROUGH TRADESMAN IN LONDON.—Mr Bedford held an inquest on Monday evening at the Windsor Castle Tavern, Westminster, on the body of Henry Mitchell, aged 29, a police-constable of the it Division, who committed suicide on Thursday lt:-' under yrs, melancholy circumstances. The evi,lecee of the widow and other witnesses showed that the deceased had been in business as a grocer in Middlesbrough, bat from ill-health was forced to neglect it, the consequence being that his creditors seized upon his effects and sold him up. He Cams up to London in January last, and in February obtained a position as a police-constable, in which capacity he gave great satisfaction. He was, however, continually brooding over his previous misfortunes, and on Thursday evening, during the temporary absence of his wife, he hanged himself.— The jury returned a verdict of " Suicide whilst of unsound mind." ONE MORE UNFORTUNATE —Violet Morris, who said she came originally from London, win, had no parents living, and who had been brought up by her grandmother, was charged at the Guisborough Police Court with stealing a brooch and a linen collar, the property of Selina Jones, at Guisborough, on the Bth May last.—Mrs Jones, wife of George Jones, a minor, deposed that her daughter asked her permission to allow prisoner to stay with them over the week, and shelconsented. After the prisoner _•. . . .  had gone on Monday she missed the brooch (produced), ant followed after prisoner, who ran away on seeing her. Prisoner, denying the charge on being overtaken, was given into oustody.—lospctor Hutchinson deposed to searching the prisoner and findin, the stolen brooch and linen collar in her possession.—Before the Bench defendant pleaded guilty, and in answer to a question, said she was 16 years 1 of age.—Committed to prison for one month, the Bench uging the Superintendent to do his best after that to get 11:r into some penitential iLstitution.  PRIMITIVE METHODISM IN SOUTH BANK (MrunnksiskouGH CIRCUIT). -- A society was formed ia this place about twenty years ago, and worshipped in a room until the year 1860, when a small chapel to accommodate 250 persons was erected in South Bank-terrace. The cause from that time to 1871 remained stationary, with about nine members of a thorough Primitife stamp, who could not be a disfled with things remaining as they were. Steps were taken for the advancement of the cause ; subscriptions have been raised under the one shilling per week system; social teas and services have been held during the last four years, which have resulted in redeeming the debt of the chapel, besides the cost of the painting having been expended. In February of the present year a series of religious services were arranged to be conducted by Mr Henry Brown, of Old Sbildon, a local preacher amongst the Primitives, who, for several years, has been chiefly engaged in Evangelistic work with marked success. The services have been well atteudcd by all classes, and much good has beau done. Mr Brown has ministered to the people night after night for eight weeks, and three weeks they have conducted the campaign themselves. During that time over 180 have been aided to the member. ship. The Wesleyans have also received seven' accessions. Mr Brown preached his last sermon for the present on Sunday night, his subject being " Tho Vacant Chair," Sam. 28th chapter, Bth verse " Thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty." A social tea was held in the Schoolroom on Monday, which was numerously attended, after which suitable addresses were delivered. The chair was occupied by Mr Thomas Wright. It will be seen that the chapel has become inadequate to accommodate the mernbe s, and steps are being taken for the erection of a new one at the estimated cost of £2,500. D. Berkowitz, Esq., has generously presented the society with a piece of admirably situated land, and Mr Dodd has given the handsome sum of £lOO. Thus helped and encouraged with the higher blessing, the cause must go on and prosper.