The Express. — 1860-10-02 (London, England)

THE SUICIDE OP A PRETENDED CLERGYMAN.  An inquest was held on Saturday at Northanap=la view of the body of Richard Williams, otherwise Hayward Grove Williams, the pretended clerproan, who committed suicide, ea reported en our journal of Friday hut. Mr. Bedford, of the London and North Western Railway Compa, attended to watch the proceedings. Mr. henry Webb, • detective of the City of Loudon, said he had charge of the deceased under the following circumstances :—The Rev. Hewitt Linton. of Newingtca, in this county, advertised for a curate. The demand answered the advertisement from Copenhagen-street, Islingtes, at the seine time giving as referee the Rev. Mr. SoUy, if No. 7, Catherine-street, Thornhill-square, which wan the hones where the deceased himself was living. Mr. ,Linton answered the deceased's letter, believing the reference to be correct. He was accepted as • curate, and he went to Newington and remained there, performing the services at the church as curate. After he had been at Newington about three weeks he wrote to Mr, French, • watchmaker in the Strand, and also to another watchmaker, and obtained three gold watches, stating that they were to be about 25f., as they were for a testimonial to • clergyman. One gentleman from whom he had obtained watches had a friend at Newington, and. suspecting all was not right, wrote to his friend, who snceeeded in gettiser two of the watches back. The deceased then left h similes, absconding with Mr. French's watch, worth 25/. Mr. Linton then made inquiries, and it was found that the deceased was never in holy orders, and that he was not a enisid. er. Having performed the marriage ceremony of Mr. Llaton's daughter to a gentleman in London, the was illegal, and the lady ham since been re= These facts being laid before the Bishop of Peterborough, a warrant was Mined for the apprehension of Williams for °Whin mosey by means of • forged letter. Wallise omit sot obtain any information till last Maratay wheelie heard declared was brim as • Materna Mr. Ongte,Woleara Collage, war Beerose. Meld, Becher. West ea the Tuesday, and atter showbiz the photograph of the deceased to Men. Ores abs idea• tiled it se that eta penes who had bees living there me  the Rev. Moeda Jones. Deceased obtained that dtuation by applying to a schobstic array in Tavideek.street. While at Woburn he was continually in a state of intoxication. On the 17th of September be had two gallons of brandy and two osßoas d ram from London, which he drank in a abort time. He likewise obtained two suits of clothes and several boxes of cigars from London. He behaved in such • diegraceful manner that the police were called is, and be was turned out of the house on the 21st ' instant, Traced him to London, and learned that he had been applying to scholastic agents in the names of John Ferguson and John Morris, giving his address as Sams Hotel, Strand, which was false. On Wednesday he was arrested and locked up at the Moorgate-lane policestation for the night. Witness brought the deceased away by the half-put 11 train on the London and North Western Railway from London on Thursday morning, with the in. tention of taking him to Oundle, to be examined before the magistrates. On the journey deceased was very sociable, laughing and joking, and saying how he had gammoned the old people at Nassnngton. Amved at Northampton about 1.20, and were told they would have to wait half an hour. Deceased said he should lice to have some refreshment, and bad cold bed sad bitter ale. Afterwards went back to the station, and wen waiting on the platform for the train. Just before the train came up deceased rid, " What do you think will be my sentence if I am convicted!" Told him that he could not inform him. Decesaed said, "If it is for any long term I am sure I shall not live through it." Deceased was then standing close to witness on the right side. The train came in less than a minute afterwards, when the deceased sp in front of the engine. Witness caught him by the left but could not hold him fast enough to stop him. He fell between the rails with his right foot across the rail nearest the platform, and the engine went over it. He then deliberately turned himself over upon the other rail and the wheel of the next :=e went over his body. On searching the dehe found a letter on him which he had written, giving himself a good character. Believed deceased had before been in custody for horse stealing. John Genders, a polioeman at the Northampton station, said he beard • scuffle on the sfolatform, and the deceased rittlest him. Tried to him, but could not. then stepped down into the " four feet " in front of the engine. The tender was first, and knocked him down, and the last wheel of the engine took his heel off. Witness called out to him to lie still, as he lay between the rails, and nothing could have hurt him if he had kept quiet. Instead of doing so, however, he, as he was lying on his face, turned round, and, with a spring from off his hands and knees, threw his head and shoulders across the rails, and the carnage wheels went over him. Mr. Maxon, surgeon, said he examined the body of the deceased, and found the right heel lacerated, and the train had apparently passed over his breast, the ribs and chest bone being both broken. The comber summed up, and the jnry returned a verdict that " Deceased committed suicide while labouring under temporary insanity, and they thought that no blame was attached either to Mr. Webb or the railway officiate."