The Sun. — 1845-01-02 (London, England)

SUICIDE AT DERBY.  (From a Correspendent of the Morning Chronicle.)  A young man, whose name was Dixon, and who formerly resided in the family a clergyman of a neighbouring county, has committed selt-destruction, after attempting the life of a girl, named Caroline Allen, to whom his affections were confided.  The deceased was about twenty-one years of age, and about five years ago absconded from service, in company with the clergyman's daughter. After making one or two unsuccessful efforts to get united, they at length succeeded, and were married at the parish church of St. Peter's, Derby. The father of the young lady was naturally indignant, and subsequently obtained a divorce. It appears that, some time pending this, the deceased formed an acquaintance with Caroline Allen (whose father formerly resided at Leicester, hut is now a copperplate printer et Derby). Caroline, however, at first refused his proposals, on account of his former marriage ; but about a year ago her scruples gave way, and she consented to become his.  Caroline seems to have been a frequenter of "saloons" in Derby and Nottingham, and the deceased procured her an engagement at the latter town as a vocalist. The deceased's attendance upon her seems to have been constant, and she complained of his neglecting his work, stating that she could not maintain him unless he assisted by his own industry. He said if she would consent to marry him, he would attend to his work, and she gave her consent, and furnished him with money to get the banns put in, and to purchase certain necessaries for the wedding festivities ; on one occasion she gave him two sovereigns for this purpose. The banns ran out, and the deceased (according to Caroline's statement) then wished for a little time, until his friends were more favourable to the match. In consequence of the delays which took place, the affair became so much talked of amongst their circle of acquaintance in Nottingham, that the girl determined on breaking the engagement. This was accordingly done about six weeks ago, but a friendly correspondence seems to have been kept up between the parties. On Christmas-day the deceased came over to Derby, and had an interview with Caroline at the Talbot public-house. He requested to know whether she was still of the same mind. She replied that she was, and reasoned with him on the propriety of discontinuing the connexion. He did not seem much concerned, though he was evidently. dissatisfied with the result of the interview, and exclaimed, " If it must 4e so, it must." On the next day the deceased spent five or six hours at the house of the girl's father, and conducted himself in a proper and becoming manner. At night he saw Caroline at a saloon; no words of an angry nature ensued, and they parted in apparent kindness and friendship. On Friday morning he called upon her at her father's house in South-street, and sent a younger sister for a pint of ale. Caroline was not then down stairs, but she complied with the deceased's request to " get up," and on descending to the house-place he made very kind inquiries as to the state of her health, and then pregented her with a glass of ale, saying, " Caroline, this is to be our parting glass." Not suspecting any wrong, she drank part of the contents, and immediately became very ill, being violently purged and sick. He then told her that he " could not bear to see the pledge of his affections in the arms of another ;" and stated that, as his former wife was about to be married to her cousin, and as she (Caroline Allen) refused to have him, he could not, and would not, bear it. Caroline was assisted to her bed by her sisters, and the deceased left the house for a few minutes. On his return he walked into the bed-room in an agitated state, with a glass of ale in his hand, and, before he could be prevented, drank the contents. He then rushed to the bedside, expressed a hope that she would be saved, and that she would remember him, and then sunk upon the floor, exclaiming, " Let me die in your arms and I shall e happy ! " His mouth foamed, his legs and arms stretched out, and he immediately expired. On his person were found several letters, showing premeditation, and avowing that if she (Caroline) would not be his, no one else should have her, and requesting that both their bodies might be buried in the same coffin (if possible), but at any rate in the same grave. A small phial, containing prussic acid, and also a razor, were found in his pocket; and an empty phial, which had contained prussic acid, was found in the house.  An investigation of all the circumstances took place before Mr. Balguy, Coroner, on Monday last, and a verdict of felo de se was returned by the jury.