The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1869-05-22 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

THE FEARFUL SUICIDE AT DALTON.  An inquest was held at the Cavendish Arms Inn, Dalton, on Saturday morning last, before Mr. Butler, coroner, and a respectable Jury, of which Mr. Matthew Denny was foreman, touching the death of John Wren, who was found dead at the west end of Dalton tunnel, under the shocking circumstances related in last Saturday's Herald. William Jones was the first witness called, and he said: I live at Dalton Gas Works, and am the manager of them. I have known the deceased for some years. He died yesterday, and was twenty-nine years of age at the time. He was a labourer, and his name was John Wren. About half-past seven o'clock yesterday morning he came down to the Gas Works, and appeared in a low way, and talked as if he did not know what he was about. He said he hardly knew what he was doing, and he talked at random. I induced him to go home, and assisted his wife in putting him to bed. I stayed a few minutes, and advised his wife to telegraph for his uncle. 1 went to the Dalton Railway Station and ordered a telegram to be sent to his uncle, and paid for it. I did not see it sent off. The deceased apbeared to be disturbed in his mind about his affairs, and I thought if his uncle came he would be able to calm him. Samuel Longcake next gave the following evidence :—I live at Barrow, and am a locomotive engine driver on the Furness Railway. On Friday morning I was driving an engine and twenty-eight laden wagons to Barrow. I had stopped at Dalton station, and started from there about twenty minutes to eleven o'clock, and in going through the Dalton tunnel I saw a man about 40 yards withig the tunnel coming towards the train between the down rail and the side. I thought he was going across the rails, and sounded the whistle. I afterwards looked back and saw him standing against the side of the tunneL He had a black hat and t light trousers on. I did not see his face. 1 • was well acquainted with deceased. The man held his head down.  George flousby said: I live at Barrow, and am a locomotive engine driver. I was diving an engine on Friday morning with 47 laden wagons from Dalton to Barrow. I started from Dalton at a quarter to eleven. On entering the Dalton tunnel I sounded my whistle as usuaL On getting into the tunnel I saw a man lying across the inside rail, of the curve, and about 30 yards in front of the engine. I soundc 1 the whistle, and saw the man at the first sound of the whistle make a slight movement. I reversed the engine and applied the brake and palled up as soon as possible. The train stopped after the whole of it had deared the tunnel about ten or twelve yards. I went and informed my guard and we went ' to where the deceased lay. The upper part of the body way lying in the four foot, and the lower part on the outside of the rails next to the aide of the tunneL The body appeared cut in two about the bowels. There was a slight twitching of the muscels. My guard went and informed the Dalton station master, who sent men to attend to the body and, then I went on with my train.  Stephen Thompson was next called and said: lam a police officer stationed at Dalton. Yesterday morning I received information of the -n.ed's death. I went to the Dalton tunnel -^vr the body. I took a lamp and „ centre of