Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1890-08-09 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUICIDE THROUGH FINANCIAL  DIFFICULTIES.  A PAINFUL .SENSATION.  An inquest was held at Wakefield on Thursday on the body of John Masterman, public accountant and auditor, and who destroyed his life on the previous evening, at his offices in King-street, b taking an ounce of laudanum. The deceased gentleman, who was in his sixtieth year, and leaves a widow and a large family, was a native of , Wakefield and one of its best-known citizens, ! ! holding several local positions of trust. He formerly had a seat in the Town Council. The evidence given yesterday clearly showed that for some time past his financial affairs had become hopelessly involved. Recently it had been noticed that the deceased appeared to be bothered, worried, and fidgetty. Just before his death he admitted having taken the poison, and said that he had explained in writing the reason why he had done so. It now seems that during the early part of the present wedr he had written certain letters, and these documents were found in a safe, along with a policy on his life for £5OO in the Standiird Life Assurance Company, and his will, which lie made on Tuesday. He also wrote a letter of instructions to his executors, and a statement which clearly , showed that for years past he had been labouring [under great financial difficulties. The statement went on to say :  The most terrible and cruel calamity to any family has come to my innocent wife and children. Without any experience, I was years ago appointed secretary to a building society. The rates of interest both for borrowers and investors were the same, so that no profit could be made. I was not then competent to keep the books properly, and they are not well kept, and never have been, even since I became competent. All claims made by the society up to the present time, except the bank, have been met by me. The accumulations of interest paid on the claims have been heavy, and there has never been a corresponding income. I hoped to be able to meet all claims and the bank as they gradually came in, and thus have liquidated the society long ago, but I have come to the end of my means to pay, and there is a large deficiency. I have paid my income, and lately entrenched on other funds. I have dealt unwisely in real property. fought to have converted my property into money long ago, and paid off my liabilities so far as possible, probably the whole. It is now too late; I cannot get time to do it. Without wilfully intending funds in my care have been mixed with my other moneys, and now are deficient. I cannot retrieve myself. My family know nothing of this. They have done their duty and worked and assisted to earn their own living. Words of regret will not atone. I hope and beg that the trustees of my will will accept the appointment. If God hear my prayer may He be merciful to my wife and children.—J. MASTERIUN, August sth, 1890. Oh how happy I might and ought to have made my dear wife and children. Oh that I had followed my wite's counsel. I involved myself in too many matters, and have let them get wrong. My prayers are now of no avail. God help my wife and children. My dear Edwin, John, Annie, forgive me.—J. MASTERNAN, sth August, 1810. The Coroner briefly summed up the evidence, and the jury then returned a verdict to the effect that "the deceased puisoned himself with an overdose of laudanum whilst labouring under temporary insanity.''  A sad accident is reported from Fontainebleau, where a young seminarist, aged 16, was drowned on Saturday while bathing in the Seine, and two other persons, the Dean-Rector of Chatalet-enBrie and a young peasant, also lost their lives in a vain attempt to rescue him.  A telegram from Rome says —An official in the Post Office, who was recently arrested on a charge of fraud, made a statement which led to the appointment of a committee to investigate the alleged financial irregularities in one of the departments. The committee have already discovered that the Post Office has been defrauded of over 50,000 francs, and the enquiry is proceeding. A number of officials have been arrested.  Vocal imb f 3 istrirt Ottus.  Tier Majesty has directed letters patent to be issued for presenting the Rev. C. E. Richardson to the Rectory of Redmarshall, void by the resignation of the Rev. W. S. Guest-Williams.