The Express. — 1867-08-17 (London, England)

SUICIDE BY A BAPTIST MINISTER AT BEDFORD.  • CM Thursday morning a report became prevalent is the town that an elderly gentlemen had been found drowned in the riven This unhappily proved true, as will be seen from the evidence taken before Dr. Prior, borough coroner, at the inquest held at the Ship Inn, St. Cuthbert s, on Thursday afternoon. John William Thornbee, Minister of the Particular Baptist Chapel, Castle-lane, identified the body as that of George Wright He was a minister of the same denomination as himself, and bad charge of • congregation at L.kenheath, Suffolk. He was 52 vein of age. He had been visiting him during the last three weeks. He had for some time been suffering great mental depression, brought on through the loss of his wife. The witness continued—Since he has been at my house he has been somewhat better than before. The last few days when walking with me, he asked me whether certain parts of the rive' were deep. He has told me that several times he has beer tempted to commit self-destruction, but he had dieng it He has oceaaionally been very much tempted to blaspheme, and he has told me that he would rather the by his own band than do it. Lest night he was very touch depressed, and could not come into the chapel, but remoaned in thevestry. We returned home about 8 ; he then told rue that he thought he was lost. I talked to him about en hour and • half. He afterwerde fell asleep in his chair. He awoke about 12 o'clock, and then retired to his rows. He was very much agitated, and during the night kept coming in and out of my room—l should think about twenty times. The lest time I sew him was about half-past 6. I afterwards said to my wife, " Mr. Wright is very quiet, be must be asleep." She got up and went to his room, and found that he was gone. I thought he was gone to take a walk. We examined the house all through, sad then went in search of him, but without success. A little girl afterwards brought the news that some one had been taken out of the river, and it was believed to be Mr. W ' ht. He spoke about making his will a few days ago, and Turnley and Slisrman's clerk came. In the clerk's presence he told him that he had not been influenoed in making his will. He left 5/. to his servant girl, 19/.195. to his housekeeper, and 2001. to Mr. Thorebee for his kindness. Witness said he thought deceased was worth somewhere about 1,000/. Policie-constable Haynes said he went down to the river. He found the body at Mr. Rainbow's public-house. lie found • purse, a pair of gloves, • bunch of keys, and I,{d. on his person. Afterwards sainted in conveying the body to the Ship Inn. Ebenezer Hart said be was working at the pits near Mn. Layton's. Mee. Layton told him that there was some man drowning in the neer. Four of them immediately rowed down the river in • boat. I saw the deceased in • floating position in the water, with his stick in both hands, where the river parts for the overshot. I put my oar under his arm. He floated round the boat, and then we got him in. He appeared quite dead. We took him to Rainbow'. beershop. By • juror—He wee taken out between twenty =antes and half .past 9. Joseph Rainbow said—l was at work in my garden at half-part 6. I saw deceased come down the path which leads from St. Cuthbert's into Thames street. He appeared in a great hurry, and was going at the rate of five miles an hour. Shortly after he passed by my house in • very hurried manner. I saw no more of him until they sent for me at half-past 9. At this ■tage of the inquiry, it was stated by the coroner that de eased was seen by four young men in a boat before be was seen by Ebenezer Hart. One of these young men, named Matthias, who was sent for, was not forthcoming. Rowland Hill Coombs, M.R.C.S., said he was sent for to see the deceased ; he was quite dead. Used Dr. Sylvester'. system to restore him, but without avaiL Besides two small bruises, there were other mark. of violence. He we of opinion that death was caused by drowning, and he should think he bad been in the water upwards of an  The sixth half-yearly ordinary general meeting was held yesterday, at the Westminifter Paw, Hotel; the Earl of DEVON in the chair. The report of the directors has been publ.4,hed-, " The CHAIRMAN, inmoving its adoption, rem.,r,,, 0, ',fully explained what had been done in the hail...year, and the eircumstansee which bad prevented the  been as rapidly swas denied . There had, &owner.no =Menai' interruption, notwithstanding Hat ankles in placing the debentures and securities of the earlpatty owing to the depression in the money market, and consequent delay in obtaining the land for the line.. The board had every confidence in the success of the undertaking, and they bowed their opinion on the large and ins eating traffic of the Metropolitan line. The want of pecuniary resources had raised difficultke between the , directors and the contractors, bat they had beim advised and co-operated with by Mr. Parsons, the cbairwa*,dtbe Metropolitan, who had suggested various moditcations of the contract, involving oonoessions on both sides, and the result was, be believed, that that part of the line between Brompten and Westminster, bridge would be open by the oommenoessent of the summer of 1868. For this purpose it would he necessary to make the unissued debentures available, and that would be done under the powers dthe act which was DOW about to pass, and the non-passing of which up to the potent time would render it necessary to postpone the "pedal meeting for authorising such issue. It was pga. posed that the new debenture stock should be offered pr 6 • rata to the shareholders ; and he had no doubt if it were . issued on fair and reasonable terms, as it would be, would be mainly taken up by the present proprietors. He anticipated that the abandonment of the Huston and Charing-cross line would largely benefit the Metropolitan District line, with which to some extent it would have competed. Every facility would be afforded to the London and North Western, or any other company, to bring traffic from the north to the south of London.  Mr.