The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1840-10-02 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE AT RUNCORN.—It is our painful duty to record this week the death of Mr. Edward Lynn, surgeon, of Runcorn, under circumstances of a very distressing nature, having last Wednesday put an end to his life by swallowing prussic acid. It appears the unfortunate gentleman had been labouring under a depreision of spirits for some time past. About four years ago he was subject to what is generally termed a " religious melancholy," being at the time an attendant on the service performed at the parish church, then he joined the methodist connection, afterwards the calvinists, and last was a hearer of the Rev. Mr. Cox, at Trinity Church. This religious melancholy continued to hang about and depress him more or less to the day of his death, and to all appearance was augmented by the death of his wife, in February last. One day during the last week in August he was missing, and could not be found ; his sick patients were desirous of having his attendance; every place was searched, likely and unlikely without success ; and, last of all, drags were employed to try the canals and ponds in the neighbourhood. His housekeeper stated, that when he left home he went in his usual manner, and she knew nothing contrary to him being in at the next meal. His relatives and friends were much distressed, considering him then dead; when, on the 4th of September, as two of his neighbours were about to get into the railway carriages at Whitmore station, Staffordshire, the deceased came and booked 'for Moore, near Runcorn. Upon expressing their joy at seeing him, and quietly remonstrating with him for absenting himself scr long without any notice, thereby causing his friends so very much trouble, and at the same time damaging his medical practice so vitally, he merely stated that he had been on his business. On his return to Runcorn, he resumed his vocation, and appeared as usual, up to Wednesday morning last (the day of his untimely death), when he was shaved by Mr. Roberts, dressed in the manner he generally did, breakfasted at nine, and soon after went up stairs to his room. An application being made for him in the surgery, the servant knocked at his door about ten, but received no answer ; she shortly afterwards knocked again, but without receiving an answer. She then tried the door, and found it fastened inside, and, becoming alarmed, ran down stairs, and stated called dlhedr in,and withapprehensions. his Aasscishtaainrncleatkieler,do%•hrowlaivsebosrneknaer, was open, and the deceased was found lying on the floor lifeless, at the foot of the bed, with a surgeon's glass measure firmly grasped in the right hand, and an empty phial bottle lying near to him on the floor, which bad lately contained prussic acid. Medical assistance was forthwith called ; and Mr. Henry Wilson, surgeon, and Mr. Peter Ward, druggist, applied the stomach pump and the usual remedies, but without effect, the vital spark having fled before they arrived. He was in his 39th year, a widower, and has left tWo children. A coroner's inquest was held on view of the body, when the jury delivered a verdict of " Temporary insanity. " ._Chester Courant.